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Seven questions with Abigail Collier

8 June 2017

This week, meet Abigail Collier, who is studying German and History and is set to graduate in 2019.

Seven questions with Abigail Collier Abi shares her recommendations for things to see and do in London and explains what her main priority would be if she was Provost for the day.

1. Why are you interested in history and what do you plan to do in the future?

I love history and always have. As well as boosting my employability a bit, learning German (and as of this year, Russian) allows me to study parts of history in more depth.

Trite as it sounds, I want to make a difference. Experience has shown me that it's important that I do something I'm passionate about, as it allows me to feel useful and keep learning, and, most importantly, challenges me to use my brain and solve problems. What exactly that will end up being I don't know, but I'm excited by the possibilities.

2. What is the most interesting thing you've done, seen or got involved with while at UCL?

A couple of months ago I went to a talk by Yanis Varoufakis put on by the Economists' Society. Totally spur of the moment decision to go but so glad I did. It was awesome and genuinely quite inspiring. Everyone should try and go to at least one talk or lecture outside of their degree and subject area; you never know what you might learn.

3. Have you discovered any hidden gems during your time at UCL?

Quiet study spaces are gold dust at UCL so I don't want to give too much away else they won't be quiet for much longer. Let's just say there are lots of perks to being a languages student and the resources we have available to us. Listen to SAVAGE Sounds as well; I hear that's the next big thing.

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

I'm massively into plants and love going to garden centres like the one in Camden, which is super cute and friendly and well worth a visit. Also a huge fan of museums. My favourite is the British Museum, but I would advise people just to go to one section or area at a time. Read and look at everything really carefully: you come away having learnt so much more than if you try and do the whole thing at once.

Get outside of your bubble. Going to and living near to UCL it's too easy to spend all of your time in North London.

5. If you were Provost for the day what one thing would you do?

So, so much I want to do. If I were looking for one, short-term, easy win, I would scrap the plan to turn the Lower Refectory into a catering facility and instead turn it into a study space. UCL students need places to work more than they need places to eat. University can be a stressful enough environment as it is; the battle to find a quiet place to work is an added battle we shouldn't have to have.

6. Who inspires you and why?

There's something a little cringey about 'being inspired' by something or someone, especially amongst this generation. I think because it reflects a level of keenness that perhaps doesn't come across as especially 'cool'. I'm inspired by all sorts of people all of the time. My parents, family, friends, sometimes some random academic whose written an article in a way I find particularly impressive. I even, much like another idol, Leslie Knope, am sometimes inspired by myself.

7. What would it surprise people to know about you?

I spend a remarkably large amount of my time playing football and play for the UCL team. I can also be really quite soppy, but only about a really oddly specific selection of things.