Student Voice

What important lesson have you learned during your time at Clare so far?

The most important lesson I’ve learnt is to prioritise yourself and your wellbeing, and to allow yourself to be more than what you study. I think starting university life in a heavily COVID-impacted year meant that I was too content to stay in my room, watching online lectures and taking part in Zoom supervisions. It wasn’t until second year, when I restarted playing badminton and making new friends from other colleges studying different subjects, that I realised, despite the success of my first year academically, I hadn’t had the ‘university experience’; it was quite monotonous, to think back on it. So, despite the busier workload of second year, it was much more enjoyable.

What are the key challenges you have found on your course?

I think the key challenges on my course have been a result of adapted teaching due to the COVID pandemic. During first year, all lectures and almost all practical sessions were online, and Lent Term was completed at home rather than at Cambridge; dissections had changed from a social, group-learning experience, twice- or thrice-weekly, to an individual, solitary fortnightly experience. This year, I attended my first in-person lecture in Lent Term, which was a completely different experience to being able to rewind / slow down / speed up lecture recordings, and I learnt the importance of pre-reading very quickly! In-person practical sessions have also been much more interesting and engaging. I think the lack of lab experience over the first two years has encouraged me and many of my medic friends to find summer lab research placements, so we feel more prepared for undertaking a Part II project next year.

Can you tell us about the project you worked on over the summer?

I have just finished a 10-week research placement in the O’Kane Lab in the Department of Genetics. The lab uses Drosophila (fruit flies) to investigate the role of axonal ER-shaping proteins in neurodegenerative diseases. I was really keen to get more hands-on wet lab experience, but this wasn’t a particularly standard biochemistry lab placement. Instead of running gels and blots and PCRs, I’ve had the unique opportunity to work on a project that requires me to dissect larvae and use confocal (fluorescent) microscopy to investigate and compare the phenotypes of individual nerves between mutant and wild type larvae. It has been an amazing opportunity to work on a project independently, from data collection to analysis to presenting my work to the group. I’ve learnt some really useful research skills, and some more unique ones which I hope will be transferrable in the future (perhaps small-scale surgery?).

At this stage in your course, and with this new experience, do you have an idea of the area you want to move into?

This experience has helped confirm that I want to be involved with research in the future and making new scientific / medical advancements, and I’m considering undertaking the Cambridge MB/PhD programme. I’ve also previously loved working with children, and I’ve been on the committee for the Cambridge University Paediatrics Society, Teddy Bear Hospital and Make A Smile charity over the past year, and will continue some of my roles next year. So, I am interested in becoming a paediatrician in the future, and would love to do some genetics-related research as well!

Was it strange being in College out of term?

Somewhat! It’s strange to see Clare without all the students. That’s not to say it hasn’t been busy with Summer School students and conferencing. The busiest must have been during the Open Days, which have gone back to being in-person this year. I was very fortunate to have been able to participate as a Subject Ambassador. Actually, it was talking to an enthusiastic and smiley medical student, in the iconic bright yellow t-shirt, that made me decide to apply to Clare when I visited at the Open Day in 2019!

It has also been really nice to have quite a few other Clare students around, who are also staying over the summer for various placements, and living on the same staircase. I’ve made some new friends, and we’ve had some fun with punting and trips to London!

You are part of the UCS Committee – can you explain a little about the roles you have held and what made you want to get involved?

In my first year, I took on the role of UCS Pandemic Officer. This was a specific role that was created on the onset of the pandemic, to help ensure that communications regarding self-isolation, testing, and regulations were reaching the whole student body. I didn’t initially realise the significance of the role, but after several rounds of UCS elections and no appointment, I thought I would give it my best shot. I’m now really glad that I did! I was able to develop my communication skills via mass emailing to all undergraduates in College, and through using the UCS social media accounts for reminders about testing and the support available. It was sometimes challenging to balance empathy for the students with the necessity of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all college members, especially the most vulnerable. I also gained an insight into student politics from attending committee meetings.

This year, with the role of Pandemic Officer thankfully becoming obsolete, I’ve been elected as the UCS Academic Affairs Officer. The core purpose of the role is to work closely with the Clare librarians, providing feedback from the students in order to implement changes to study spaces and library resources.
It’s been amazing to see the changes to the library over the past year, gradually going back to normal. Over Easter Term of last year, we had to book study spaces at designated times, wear masks and practise social distancing. This year, the library is much busier and I’ve really enjoyed the communal study vibe in the Forbes Mellon Library.

I’ve recently coordinated new Subject Representatives for the coming year, and am looking forward to working with them to best support all the students academically. First stop: Freshers’ Week library inductions and Subject Picnic!