Ever since I was a little kid growing up in a small town on the east end of Slovakia, my grandmother – a confectioner in a local candy-store and an enthusiast of literature – has been fond of telling me about universities like Cambridge described in Jeffrey Archer’s books. “Tim, you must go to Cambridge one day!” she would say. I had never taken it seriously and would consider it an effect of overzealousness caused by a good book. But being awarded the Reach Cambridge scholarship, my attitude took a different turn and it is I now, who may be considered overzealous.
Having the opportunity to broaden my horizons in Politics and International Relationships I already know that my summer of 2016 will be awesome, packed with new information but also with plenty of new interesting experiences and ideas. What I look forward to most, however, are the people from every corner of the world, and as if it wasn’t enough, intrigued by similar topics and sharing similar interests! I can’t wait to find myself in this diverse environment full of people contributing to it by their own opinions, mentality and way of living.
Another interesting quality of the course for me is that it brings its attendants closer to university life, both physically and mentally. Spending a couple of weeks in an academic environment is a worthwhile experience, and the combination of classes deepening one’s knowledge in a specific subject, the inspiring evening lectures, and the workshops teaching students how to successfully apply for a university, bring a high school student to his dreamed-of university as close as possible. On what better place could I wish my coinciding 18th birthday to be?
All in all, visiting Cambridge is definitely going to be the zenith of my high school years and a so much appreciated change and boost of inspiration in comparison to my everyday environment.
By Tim, Reach Cambridge student 2016
