Humans of UCL #2: students, staff, visitors - everyone has a story

You may have come across the world-renowned Humans of New York blog, but were you aware of Humans of UCL? Since 2013, a group of UCL students have been sharing the stories and thoughts of fellow students, staff and visitors around campus.

Here's our second snapshot of those featured this academic year.

Living in so many different places has taught me how to be open with people

"My family and I moved to New York when I was three for two years because my dad worked at Columbia University, then we came back to London until I was 11, and then we moved back to the US again, this time to Washington. It was difficult moving around all the time, especially when I was young because it meant I was changing school a lot. I think living in so many different places has taught me how to be open with people. I've always had strong social skills because making new friends is just something I've had to get used to and I think keeping connections with people, even if they're really far away, is really valuable and creates stronger and more lasting friendships."

When things move so fast, we need a constant - for me that constant is my mother

"I've just got off the phone to my mum. She rings me every day, even though I live at home! You'd think that'd get annoying, right? But somewhere along the line, these brief encounters came to make my day - everyday. I anticipate them with excitement, enthusiasm and great elation. Sometimes they're a time of solace, and at others a time of laughter. There have been many days when I haven't appreciated her enough - I'd like to think that today isn't one of them. When things move so fast, we need a constant - for me that constant is my mother."

No one comes into life with it all figured out - we're all trying

"Don't let where you come from, or your past, define you or be a barrier to where you want to go. I went to a school in Manchester where less than 50% of people got five A* to C grades at GCSE. Yet, here I am today. At the same time, don't allow yourself to become too fixed on an idea. The funny thing about life is that sometimes things don't turn out the way we'd imagined them in our minds, which can lead to resentment and disappointment. I try to remind myself - it's just trial and error. No one comes into life with it all figured out - we're all trying and... hey, you can't knock a trier!"

A lot of people want to get away from home and they fight hard for the idea of independence

"I'm thinking of going to UCL. I want to stay in London and live with my parents - I'd miss them too much if I left! A lot of people want to get away from home when university comes around and they fight hard for the idea of independence, but not me. It's not about me being reliant on my family, I'd say it's more down to my background. Both of my parents are from Lebanon, where the idea of family is almost engrained in the culture. Being at home would also mean I could be there for my younger sister - she's only 10, and at an age where she's beginning to develop and become her own person. She'll start to have her own ideas about the world and society - I don't want to leave her on her own to figure it out by herself, I'd prefer to be there with her."

I'd like to train teachers how to teach back home - that's how I intend to make a difference

"I'm studying a PhD in Maths Education, and I'm doing it because I want to make a difference. I've been working on this all of my life. I come from the Dominica, and being a former possession of the British, all we hear about, even now, is the high standard of education here in London. So I worked my way here in order to learn. My hope is to actually go back and train teachers how to teach little kids numeracy, because it's just as much about the teacher as it is the subject. That's how I intend to make a difference."

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