Page 10 - Luce 2015

N ews a nd Events

Oxford ‘versus’ JCH Shani: Is ‘pretty much everything’ a
viable answer?! Perhaps a better way of
While listening to a speech at another college, the Principal noted its ambition that articulating that would be to say that I
one day ‘people might not only go from here to Oxford, but actually come from truly feel at home at JCH. St Catherine’s
Oxford to here’. It got him thinking: what is best about my own College, and in College was a place to go back to at
what ways is the JCH experience different to that of an Oxford college? He decided the end of the day, a place to study, a
to catch up with some past and current JCH students and tutors to find out. place to eat, a place to sleep. However,
it did not feel like home. I didn’t get the
Leng Lee (2004), 2006 Joske Scholar same warm, safe feeling that I do when
and 2007 Rhodes Scholar, Jesus College, I see JCH from across Royal Parade
Oxford after a walk around Royal Park at dusk.
To elaborate further, the inclusivity is
Jenny Tran (2007), 2013 Joske Scholar a large part of what makes it feel so
and 2012 Rhodes Scholar, Green welcoming. The ability to participate in
Templeton College, Oxford a wide range of sports is fantastic and I
feel very lucky to have been able to be
Shani Brampton (2014), 2015 May part of the rowing team in my first year.
Dunn Scholar and Student Club General Shani Brampton in Oxford The numerous social events throughout
Representative, St Catherine’s College, the semester provide opportunities
Oxford for a more intellectual interaction as
well as the space to simply relax and
Alex Eastwood (2015), 2015 Rhodes Shani: The aspect I most enjoyed was ‘hang out’ with others. Compared to
Scholar, Magdalen College, Oxford attending speeches from notable figures St Catz, JCH provides many more free
such as the Prime Minister of Sudan opportunities to hear from distinguished
Dr Powell: What have you enjoyed most and Dambisa Moyo (author of Dead figures and to learn how to conduct
about your time in Oxford? Aid), which were hosted by the Oxford oneself appropriately at formal meals.
Union. And you cannot help but fall in The comparatively relaxed student-tutor
Leng: The chance to meet students from love with the stunning city – running relationship also contributes to a more
hugely diverse backgrounds and learn along the Thames, through Christchurch comfortable living/study environment.
about their countries, work experiences Meadow and back past the RadCam Furthermore, through these interactions
and dreams. and Sheldonian Theatre in the early one learns much from listening to the
morning with the sunlight trickling tutors speak about what life is like after
Alex: The diversity. At a graduate level, through the cream coloured buildings an undergraduate degree and what
Oxford is a melting pot. I have met was incredibly special. The camaraderie pathways one can take.
people from new countries and cultural of my ‘staircase’, although it pales in
backgrounds and that adds an integral comparison to the ‘corridor antics’ at Jenny: Tight-knit community, lifelong
depth of experience to this ancient, JCH, also remains a stand out part of my friends, engaging alumni and speakers,
English shire. This is especially true of my collegiate experience at Oxford. opportunity to give back.
current programme, a Master of Science
(Neuroscience), in which our cohort of Jenny: Rowing bumps racing! Racing Given that both provide collegiate
22 comprises 12 nations. This is even where each rowing crew then chases education, is there anything similar
the crew in front and attempts to BUMP about the two places?
them.

What have you enjoyed most about your
time in JCH?

Leng: Culturally, I felt strongly aligned to
the values that JCH aspired to uphold and
imbue students with.

Alex: My time as Residential Tutor at JCH
gifted me two things: time and space to
explore my passion for educating; and an
insight into the potential for pastoral care.
Jenny Tran (centre) graduates with the
Sheldonian Theatre in the background As for the latter, student wellbeing is so
often given lip service, but it is something
more pronounced in my next degree, that JCH lived and breathed. The welfare
the Master of Public Policy: 117 students of its residents always appeared to be
come from 54 countries. It is exciting to paramount – as essential to their own
witness this being presented not just as positive personal growth, as well as
feel-good requisite, but as an aspirational to the health and quality of the overall
advantage in its own right. For me, this community. JCH further demonstrated to
has been an invitation to socialise outside me the role that individuals can play in
of the cultural bubble that we often the creation and curation of community
happen to find ourselves in at home. beyond family and school. Leng Lee at Jesus College
10 LUCE Number 14 2015