Manon was elected JCR President in May this year. She is going into her second year studying History

Why did you choose Univ? Why did you study History?

I chose Univ for a variety of reasons. Even though it’s right on the High Street which is constantly noisy and busy, as soon as you step inside it’s beautiful and peaceful. Everyone I’d spoken to about the college had told me that it was a friendly place with a really welcoming community. It balanced everything I was hoping for in terms of the people, the tutors and the location.

I’ve pretty much always known that I wanted to do my degree in History and it was always my favourite subject at school. There’s so much freedom to find what interests you the most and you get to learn about completely unknown periods from experts in college.

How do you think you’ve changed since stepping through Univ’s doors for the first time?

It’s difficult to know exactly but coming to Univ and university in general has taught me how to find balance in an environment which is much less structured than school. Understanding how to achieve what you want while also taking advantage of all the fun things Oxford has to offer has been really rewarding.

How did you find Freshers’ Week?

I think the way Univ ran Freshers’ Week made it much more fun than I expected and really helped with settling in. The events made it easy to meet people, but there was also time to relax and recharge. There’s enough going on that you don’t need to feel pressure to go to everything and everyone at college was also very welcoming and friendly.

How do you feel about the coming term? Do you have any advice for incoming freshers?

I’m excited to be back next term and to see everyone after such a long break! There’s so much to do in Oxford and every day in different so I’m looking forward to being back in college and embracing the busyness.

In terms of advice to freshers, I’d say don’t put pressure on your university experience. Don’t worry about how long it takes you to feel settled in, you have lots of time! Take each day as it comes and try new things; there’s so much on offer.

How do you relax after a busy day?

I mainly relax by spending time with my friends, but also by going to Christchurch Meadow (just behind college) or Uni Parks in the summer.

What do you hope to achieve as JCR President? 

As JCR President, I hope to ensure that every student’s needs are met during their time at Univ. My time as Welfare Rep last year taught me that even if people don’t feel able to reach out, making sure the college environment is as supportive as possible is still vital.

I also hope to continue the work that has been happening to promote inclusivity and to be an advocate for every student, meaning that no one is excluded from fully enjoying college life.

Describe Univ in three words

Friendly, dynamic, happy

Published: 2 September 2024

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