I WAS A UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE STUDENT!

Okayyyy so maybe I'm over egging that title, but hey I did attend CAM. This past week I began a 5 day residential stay at St.Catharine's College, University of Cambridge through the Sutton Trust Summer Scheme. When I first heard about this scheme through my teacher I was hesitant. My GCSE's were totally unexpected results in my eyes and in all fairness AS-levels have been a huge different ball game for me and I was struggling. But with this programme giving students who achieved 5 A's in their GCSE's and do not necessarily come from an area where the percentage of students attending university is high , I couldn't really miss this opportunity.

(St.Catharine's College)

Nerves didn't really kick in until I merely caught my train, and then I didn't even think about all the what ifs, only OH MY GOD I'M GOING TO CAMBRIDGE. Such a prestigious school I obviously had high expectations and it really didn't disappoint! The scenery was beautiful, the weather was bright blue clear skies (bar one day but that's okay,it meant I could whip out my cool rainmac) and bicycles upon bicycles everywhere you looked.

The course I was on was the Psychological and Behavioural Sciences and my fondness for psychology has grown throughout the week. The lectures were in such a timeless room and the information and topics that were discussed in the lectures really opened my mind at how amazing our brain is. Suddenly it made next year seem all to real as I will be sitting in lectures come next September.

But being at Cambridge wouldn't have been half as fun if it hadn't had been for the people I met there. Eliska, Beth, Connie, Joanna, Emily , Emilie & Mia were fabulous. Our fun when we went punting was probably one of the best moments of my life, tears of laughter that would not stop thanks to Eliska's "Banana" comment. When you are going to somewhere new,alone without any home comforts it can be such a daunting experience but you forget to understand that everybody is in the same boat as you. This opened my eyes and made me less nervous for the real thing next year, I'm sure I'll make friends but how they will compare to this bunch...I have no idea!

Thanks to the Sutton Trust for allowing such a golden opportunity that I would never have got to experience and for the whole week running so smoothly. I think another visit to Cambridge is needed in the future.