My Cambridge diary by Marcus Hunter, 16

Day 1

Travelling by train from Birmingham to Cambridge on this occasion was so far my worst experience of travelling on a train. I was guilty of mass inability to wait for what was awaiting me and my mind was abounding with thoughts as to what it would be like? What I was going to do? Where would I stay? A three-hour journey of this: it was cruel! Nevertheless, approaching the University of Cambridge, Newnham College, there was an unmanageable excitement growing within me.

Looking out of a Cambridge taxi window my eyes focused upon the buildings of the 12th Century - and a vast amount of bicycles. Some of the sights that my eyes gripped upon were beyond incredible and I am not too sure how my disposable camera managed to capture them!

As for arriving at Newnham College, I had to check myself - that I was fully present - that I was truly here: the University of Cambridge!! Whoa!!!

From the regrouping (of myself), some of the undergraduate students at the University registered all the participants in the Summer School and then directed us to our individual accommodation. Following this, we were all asked to assemble in the Common Room where we were introduced to all the members who would be looking after us throughout the Summer School.

As to my pleasure, we were then made aware of the college buttery; and it was there that we had our first evening meal as well as a great opportunity to get to know one another (and no, I am not referring towards the food here).

Day 2

After breakfast, we were all congregated in the common room where we prepared for what was going to be a day reliant upon my level of breath intake.

We headed towards the Faculty of Law within enjoyable distance of Newnham College, for it was there that our first lecture, Engineering: “Sustainable Energy” by Mr Sam Bennett was to take place.

In this lecture, Mr Bennett covered some very amusing facts - in particular that it is more energy efficient to use the electric dishwasher than with one doing it oneself (concerning the “forever” amounts of washing up only).

Escorting this session was the first of our many coffee breaks before returning to the Faculty of Law for lecturing devoted to “Linguistics” by Dr Bert Vaux (Ohh, man this was a lecturing period of zest and spice - this was truly and utterly absolutely fantastic!!!), and a lecture devoted to mathematics: “Mathematical Physics” by the admirable Dr Irena Borzym. An intriguing cluster of “blackjack” (pontoon) brought to an end an “ace” of a day.

Day 3

I woke up in great tiredness from what was a late night, but a sincere reality check of where I actually was (THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE), joy removed my head from pillow, aside my quilt from body – to prepare for another day of awesome.

I Lewis Hamilton’d it towards destination buttery and acquainted my stomach with two croissants, a carnival of fruit and posh tea. Now I was ready for some more Cambridge!!

With all participants of the Summer School again gathering in the Common Room, it was another experience to familiarise ourselves with each other and also with the college and its operations. We also needed to get ready to make our way to the University Botanic Garden.

Keys: check, badge: check, camera: check; we were ready to proceed. When we arrived at the gardens, I don’t know about the others, but astonishment withheld me when it was revealed to us the 40 acres of pure Cambridge garden, ministered by trees of ancient: it fascinating to see.

Before long, we returned to Newnham College to prepare for what was described to me as: “Punting - a man steering a boat on its end surface, with eight people ‘chilling’ in the back” - not knowing what to expect from this: I could not wait!!

Punting was an exhilarating experience to obtain and my camera worked hard in capturing most of all that was available to capture. Nonetheless, it was truly a great thing to do and I would recommend it to all people.

Day 4

Thursday was a day of uncensored vista into the student life at the University of Cambridge. A sulphurous lecture from the legendary Ms Hetal Patel concentrating upon “Biological Sciences” with her great touch of informality was truly a highlight to the week.

As well as this was a lecture from Dr Charlotte Ridgway assigned to “Physical Health and Activity”. I think I speak on behalf of all my fellow students present that our intentions of gorging the gargantuan of free food towards the downwards direction of our throats were annihilated by every word she said (and they still are!!)

Furthermore, to much, much gratitude were lectures given by Dr Lucy Delap lime-lighting “The History of Margaret Thatcher” and “The Politics of Gender” and Dr Kate Taylor focusing upon the “Computer Sciences”.

Not to forget, the thankful work of Ms Hanna Weibye upon her advice referring to study and presentation skills will always be beneficial to me. Hanna continually reinforced to us all the essence of time organisation and planning; that these two things have, over time, had their importance disguised until it has almost become unrecognised. Thanks again to Hanna for revealing it back to us.

Day 5

With the final day preparing to ambush us all, there was not at all any sense of fear - just a sense of excitement and power. We all arose early and were ready for some more Cambridge with no mercy. Following breakfast was our viewing of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

With patrolling the museum, and might I add, I am not a person keen on painting and ornamented sculpture, I found it extremely amusing to think about the history and purpose of many of the arts; this also reflecting upon my present experience in Cambridge. I could detect a great sense of depth within every section of painting and yet its connections to the existing Cambridge living environment. It was also available to notice the success of the Cambridge area in maintaining its tradition and background, which I believe creates the outstanding society of Cambridge as well as its University.

Subsequently, we all retreated into the Common Room to prepare for another session. This session was one that I had awaited to participate in for a very long time, a tour around Cambridge University. Newnham College, King’s College, Queens’ College, Trinity College, Emmanuel College… they all release inspiration to one’s hope and plans. It was great to see them all! (What I could see - we did not have the time to view them all.)

As the evening approached and the stomach was made amends, we all then set off for what was to be to our last night on the Summer School together and all went bowling. This was a prodigious time of joy we all spent together - and it seemed we had all known each other for years and years - that we were all best of friends from a long time before this event, yet this event being the only time we had ever met!

Honestly, that is how it felt: and I must admit, although I am inordinately competitive (and I mean inordinately), and I didn’t win any games of bowling, I realised I had some great and dear friends on this event and I am truly thankful for it.

Day 6

The last day of the Summer School was an excitingly sad period if you understand what I mean. As the groups gathered once again to present their decided performance to the remainder of groups, it was a virtuous time to hear and express the experience we had each obtained; as of my group, we did go quite beyond this!

We thought it would be gratifying to role-play certain events within the Summer School - and simply do it by all means that would cause tears from excessive laughter. It was a great and a staunch way to end of what was an AWESOME and I truly mean AWESOME of a time.

Closing thoughts

As from attending the Summer School at the University of Cambridge, my long lasting perception has been announced defeated.

This is what I thought before I saw Cambridge for myself. The University of Cambridge: an environment for those of the millionaire sons and daughters. The predominance of persons who maintain and progress the Specsavers organisation, yet could not describe what trainers and jeans trousers are. Those who only associate “McDonalds” as a family name. To those who strictly believe the abbreviation “KFC” is alone to represent the “Kinetic Fascioliasis Calamity” and would not consider at all a globally recognised food outlet. To those whose mothers, fathers, family members obtain an incomprehensible sequence of coding to add to their names. MA Oxon, MPhil, PhD – hey, what does all that mean? To those who do not take a student loan from the bank, but the bank takes a student loan from them. Yes, yes, these are the students of the University of Cambridge.

Not!!!

This is what I found: the University of Cambridge is an environment for sons and daughters who truly want to learn and achieve the greatest of the achievable. My experience has revealed to me that the University of Cambridge is an environment of workers; a place where you work hard to do your best and where learning is a pleasure.

The fact that the University focuses on your individual academic capacity is all the more reason to apply; background and financial positioning do not help you get a placement within the university.

From this experience I have come to intimate terms with the honest life as a student at Cambridge. I would not be one for working excessively hard, and there are lots of extra activities one can get involved in; there’s even an Ice Cream Society (Yeah, that is what I thought as well!). There is much more to Cambridge than just the facility for studying; there’s the opportunity for one to grow personally. The setting is in an integral civilised manner, the colleges together with one another, the teachers and supervisors devoted to help you, and by all their means necessary will help you to succeed. All these things together provide and fulfill the description of the working environment - the development atmosphere that I can achieve my forever goal.

Yes!!!

Thank you for reading my diary!

For details of GEEMA go to http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/events/geema.html, or email Mark Copestake at mac71@admin.cam.ac.uk or phone 01223 330873.