Mind the Gap

She climbs back into bed, propped up on pillows with loosely tied hair failing to cover the slight swelling around one cheek. Another unfortunate victim of the mumps epidemic plaguing Rhodes, yet this doesn’t mask her welcoming smile or dampen her spirits in any way.

Kerry Phillips is “a million dollar girl” as described by close friend, Julia. She’s survived the transition from a wild gap year to university and is passing her first year at Rhodes. After being brought up as a small town girl in Botswana, she bravely set off on a ‘Euro trip’ where she based herself as a stooge for a junior school in Bristol, one of England’s core cities. She experienced several places, touring Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Switzerland to name a few. “It was one big party the whole year” she says, “Rhodes is too, but you actually have to balance it with work”.

It was a battle getting back into the swing of things, “it felt like I’d forgotten how to use my brain” she laughs. Her work overseas was practical, coaching sport, helping in the classroom and completing the more tedious tasks like washing clothes for the boarders. This all helped with emotional preparation, building confidence and maturity after already having dealt with the challenges of freedom and independence. “It made me realize you actually have to work for what you want, especially through the broke times”. A night sleeping in the entrance hall of a block of flats with friends in London, penniless for accommodation and pouring rain outside, was just one of the contributing factors to this realization. Apart from the worry of empty pockets, there was nothing holding her back, but “now I have to have an end in sight, focusing towards a degree” she sighs, twiddling her thumbs.

Sniggering guiltily, she admits that she still manages to go out 3-4 times a week. Wednesday nights at Union are her ultimate, dressing up to wacky themes, boarding the Cain train and playing drinking games with the girls. Flashing her cherry coated nails she giggles her confession of having an alter ego named Marshy. According to Res mate, Cit, Marshy is “hazardous, hilarious, feisty and bouncy”. She comes out to play after a few too many and is especially stimulated by box wine, although tequila is her VIP ticket to club duvet. As for lecture attendance the next day, despite her best intentions to start going again this term, she hasn’t quite got back into the routine since the “nightmare” of O-term. Of course, mumps has her bed bound as one excuse for now, but her computer screen also keeps her snuggled up watching Gossip Girl. She does still strike the balance, however, doing well in exams and getting work done.

“Before gap year I said I’d do everything no matter what, even if I’d be just scraping through and living on bread. I did it all and have no regrets” she says, and this year has been much the same. Although she regrets some of her ‘mares’ as Marshy (e.g.drunk dialing!), it’s all added to the fun of first year. Kirsten describes Kerry as “old and wise”, having experienced life to the fullest and of course being the oldest and probably most mature (at times) of her friends, but her vivacious nature always shines through.



She’s survived many obstacles, managing to keep all her DP’s. Although marks may not make for the next brain scientist, she makes sure they stay above 50% without having to cut down on party time, making her a Sotally Tober “Absolut Rhodent”.