Erin Kyei (2019, Earth Sciences)

Erin is in her third year studying Earth Sciences at Univ. In this profile, she discusses the appeal of earth sciences, bops and the buttery. 

Why did you apply to do Earth Sciences at Univ?
I applied to Earth sciences after knowing I definitely wanted to go into something chemistry-related (but not wanting to do pure chemistry), but not being exactly sure which field. Earth Sciences appealed to me due to its variety of content and real-world applications. I loved the idea that I could possibly be a part of innovations that could change the earth for the better. I always took an interest in climate science, meteorology, and seismology, so as soon as I heard about the course, I knew it was perfect for me. For earth sciences, there aren’t many to choose from, so I picked Univ as it had a good reputation, a rich history as the oldest college (and I saw a picture of the buttery online and it looked really nice).

How have you changed since walking through Univ’s doors for the first time?
I have definitely matured massively since arriving at university. Simply living alone and being in charge of your own schedule forces you to.

Has anything about the course/Oxford University experience/Univ surprised you?
I was definitely surprised by the diversity of people at Univ. I have met people from all different walks of life, different countries, and different backgrounds. I think everyone arrives at Oxford with a preconceived notion of what the people here would be like, so I was pleasantly surprised by the vast variety of different people at Univ specifically and on my Course.

What was being Hall and Accommodation Officer like last year? What were the challenges/successes you experienced?
Being Hall and Accom rep was overall a good experience but did come with its challenges. What was most challenging was trying to find a relatively new way to conduct ballots after it was made impossible to conduct them in real life and the relief of pulling off these ballots successfully was a feeling that couldn’t be beaten. It was definitely a rewarding experience, and I am very thankful for the transferrable skills gained from taking on the role.

What do you do outside your studies?
I started playing rugby in first year and have continued (as much as we could with the pandemic) playing. I always knew I wanted to pick up a sport at university and the community feel of the Univ Women’s rugby really drew me to it. I’m also in the middle of writing a novel, which I started at the beginning of the pandemic (the natural thing to do when you’re faced with months of staying inside with the only escape being a trip to Co-op).

Do you have any favourite/funny moments from your time at Univ?
My favourite and funniest moments at Univ have probably been the bops. They are a great opportunity to dress up and meet people from other years. My favourite themes have been the decades bop and the pyjama bop.

Describe Univ in three words.
University, College, Oxford

Published: 7 March 2022

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