Seven questions with Maya Abraham-Steele

This week, meet Maya Abraham-Steele a third year student who is studying for an English BA.

Maya extols the virtues of the periodicals reading room at Senate House Library, as well as the pancakes at My Old Dutch.

Why are you interested in this subject and what do you plan to do in the future?

I have always liked words and story telling. I love fiction, analysis, and writing, and an English degree gives me an opportunity to explore and develop those skills.

As for the future, I hope to work in communications and to eventually write a novel or two.

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

SAVAGE is definitely one of the most interesting things I've been involved with at UCL. SAVAGE is an UCLU publication dedicated to the display and discussion of arts and culture. It is a great community of creative people, all spreading knowledge of arts and culture specifically in London.

I have enjoyed writing for SAVAGE but equally love gaining insight into London's cultural events and reading the creative writing of my peers.

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

The periodicals reading room at Senate House Library is my favourite place to read. It is full of chesterfield sofas and the walls are lined with books. It is always very peaceful in there too.

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

1. Greenwich Park: Greenwich Park has a pretty flower garden, a deer park, very tame squirrels that will high five you (it is definitely a high five and they're not searching your hands for food), and arguably the best view in the city. Plus, there are always lots of dogs running about. Dogs make everything better.
2. The Horniman Museum: This museum in Forest Hill has beautiful gardens and a conservatory, some weird taxidermy, its own aquarium that is far cheaper and less tourist-filled than the one on the South Bank, and plenty of other unique exhibitions. It is definitely worth a visit.
3. My Old Dutch: Pancakes, massive pancakes and most items on the menu are all reduced to £5 on a Monday.

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

I would put a lot more funding into student support and wellbeing, particularly psychological services. I know that mental health is a huge issue for my generation, particularly in academic institutions. The students at UCL put a lot of pressure on ourselves, and it concerns me that the current student support and wellbeing services are too stretched to support all 38,000 of us.

I think sound mental health and wellbeing is essential to fulfilling potential. I know that one size doesn't fit all in regards to support for mental health, five students with the same diagnosis could all need different things. I would hope to accommodate that as provost, to ensure that my students were fulfilling their personal and academic potential.

Who inspires you and why?

Charly Cox. She is a writer, blogger, and producer with a relatively prominent social media presence. She inspires me because she is so honest about who she is and what she's about. She promotes honest discussions about mental health, growing up and the realties of being a 20-something in the working world.

She's written some beautiful poetry, honest blog posts and makes me want to be more unapologetically myself.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

I'm really interested in education and potential improvements to the education system, from primary all the way up to higher education. There have been interesting UCL studies in the media recently about the provision of mental health support in British schools, and the role of teaching assistants.

I think the education system could be improved to better prepare people for the real world, rather than focusing so heavily on stressful examinations and factual recall.