¹û¶³Ó°Ôº

What are you studying, why are you interested in this subject and what do you plan to do in the future?

I am currently in my final year of studying on the BA History course. I have always loved learning about different cultures and historical events, particularly those that I was not exposed to as much through secondary school education.

Studying history at university gave me the chance to engage with a variety of topic areas that I never had the chance to formally study before, such as East Asian and Middle Eastern history. There are many things I love about the subject, like how it allows you to see the world through various perspectives and bridges the past with the present to inform your understanding of current affairs. My favourite aspect, however, is examining different scholarly perspectives and critiquing them.

In the future, I plan to pursue a career in management within the healthcare sector. This may come as a surprise to people who might think that it has nothing to do with history, however, the skills I have gained whilst studying are quite transferrable to a variety of careers!

What is the most interesting thing you’ve done, seen or gotten involved with while at ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº?

The most interesting thing I did this year was probably serving as President of the . Although it was challenging at times, I learnt a lot from the experience and got to meet a bunch of wonderful people, particularly my amazing committee members! We held our annual TEDx¹û¶³Ó°Ôº event in March and it felt amazing to see months of preparation materialize into an enjoyable experience for both our speakers and audience.

Another highlight from this year was participating as a panel member for ¹û¶³Ó°Ôºâ€™s Disagreeing Well in an Online World event. It’s a campaign that I definitely think more students should be aware about!

Have you discovered any hidden gems during your time at ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº?

I’m sure everyone who is reading is likely familiar with Senate House, the Archaeology Library, or Gower Street Waterstones –Ìýall places in which I have enjoyed spending time over the past three years.

Whilst there are plenty of hidden gems in and around ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº campus, I personally enjoy going to exhibitions in the nearby libraries and museums. The British Library and British Museum, for instance, are just a stone’s throw away, and constantly rotate through various interesting displays, such as the British Library’s fantasy exhibition earlier this year. It’s always nice to take a break from classes to visit one of these spots!

Give us your top three things to do/see/go to in London:

I personally feel that living in London has allowed me to gain confidence with exploring independently, which is just as important as doing things with friends. Some of my favourite activities include:

1. London Film Festival – This is usually in October (so right at the beginning of term) and I have been going for the past two years. You don’t need a special invitation to attend, and tickets are available to the general public! There’s often a mixture of highly anticipated releases and others that you might not have heard of before, but that are equally as interesting. The atmosphere is great and many of the presentations include Q&As with the cast and crew!
2. Museums – As a history student, I spend a lot of time exploring London’s large variety of museums in my spare time. There areÌýlots of niche options to discover, but my favourites remain the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, and the V&A!
3. Institute of Contemporary Arts – The ICA is an arts and film centre right by Buckingham Palace. I usually like stopping by to watch a film and then taking a walk in the surroundings afterwards, especially on weekdays when it’s quieter.

If you could study a different subject, what would it be and why?

When choosing subjects to apply for at university, at one point I was really torn between History and English. Both were my favourite subjects at schoolÌýand, for that reason, if I were to pick a different subject now, it would likely be English!

In first year, I took an interdepartmental module on dystopian literature, a genre which I have always liked reading about. I find it interesting how many timeless works of literature simultaneously reflect the historical context of their time, but also resonate with contemporary issues, such as novels like Fahrenheit 451 or The Handmaid’s Tale.

Who inspires you and why?

Many people act as inspirations in my life. My mum, for example, is largely to credit for my tolerance towards trying to understand different perspectives, especially those that I may not agree with; a skill that has been essential not only during my history degree, but in life in general.

Additionally, at university, several of my tutors have strongly shaped my outlook and influenced how I approach learning. As someone who isn’t planning to continue on to further study, they serve as great inspirations to motivate me to continue exploring history in my spare time.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

As I mentioned earlier, I’m planning to go into the healthcare sector after university, which is the aspect I think people would be most surprised by, as my role isn’t directly related to history! However, I love how dynamic hospitals are and, especially after the pandemic, I became more interested in understanding how they function and adapt.