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As an international student, I have much appreciation for the diverse student body in UCL and the multiculturalism in London. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, both in the department and the wider school community. I am currently a Student Academic Representative and a Transition Mentor in my department - the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care - and have given talks to the prospective students about the degree. As a pioneer, these opportunities are excellent leadership experiences as I serve as the point of contact between staff and students to enhance the degree and ensure things run smoothly, in addition to providing academic and pastoral support to my fellow students.
There's also plenty to do beyond the degree. The Global Citizenship Programme has been one of the highlights of my first year. It is a two-week programme that takes places at the end of the academic year. It involves working with students from other degrees on collaborative real-world projects. I was in the Grand Challenges scheme and chose "The Danube" strand. The Danube is the second largest river in Europe that passes through 10 countries, flowing southeast from Germany to the Black Sea. In this strand, I studied how the river both divided and united people and even tasted some of the traditional Slavonic cuisines. During the programme, we were assigned to a "Danubian" country (Slovakia) where we had the opportunity to learn the language. In addition, we made a film about Slovaks living in London, whom we interviewed to find out more about their transition to the UK and their cultures.
UCL also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, so there's always something exciting to look forward to. I love yoga, dancing, and film-making and will be attending a National Conference in Glasgow as part of UCLU Medsin Society. It will focus on strategies to reduce health inequalities of those affected by the refugee and poverty crisis. Needless to say, London life is also bustling with vibrancy. From a night out at the West End to museum-hopping, there is plenty of history and culture to immerse oneself in.
Last Summer, I was employed in the Residential Summer School as a Student Leader. I was in charge of leading and mentoring a group of Year 12 students on a 5-day experiential learning of the degree and university life in London. It was a fantastic experience as all my teammates were always on the ball during both the academic sessions and social activities. It was a meaningful employment at UCL as the Summer Schools are part of Widening Participation which aims to increase the diversity of students gaining admission into UCL by raising awareness about university life to those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
All in all, I am grateful to be pursuing something I am passionate about in a world-class university and look forward to even more memorable experiences in my time at UCL.