We’ve been saving some of our best til last here at Reach. Today’s activities were some of the best highlights of the programme both for the students and staff!
Our students got to break out of their typical lessons today for Interdisciplinary Day! Classes joined together in the morning for debating workshops; learning public speaking skills and honing in on their assigned subject. In the afternoon, the students had the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of some remarkable speakers as they got to debate at the Cambridge Union. The union has hosted some incredibly interesting speakers in the past including Winston Churchill, Stephen Hawking, Dame Judi Dench and Robert De Niro!
Stepping into its iconic chamber, surrounded by centuries of tradition and intellectual exchange, students couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and excitement as they prepared to add their own voices to the rich legacy of debate. The Cambridge Union Debating Society is the oldest debating society in the world. The atmosphere is both grand and inspiring, and for many, speaking there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Each combined group were able to take part in various debates across the day. They tackled a range of thought-provoking topics, from the impact of social media and the rise of artificial intelligence to the relevance of exams and whether university should be free, bringing energy, insight, and passion to every argument. The students had time to prepare their argument, either in favour or against the motion, before putting across their points to the chambers.
To relax after some spirited debating, we had some chill activities at Trinity Hall, including a painting catch up for anyone still hoping to finish off their pieces, and a very fun Nintendo Switch session! Students loved going head to head, particiular at Supermario Bros.
After dinner, however, it was time for a change of atmosphere. A change for the worse… by worse, I mean a change into the spooky! With our scary supervisor spirit guides and our ghastly ghosts flitting about Cambridge central, our students were taken on a terrifying tour of the city. Our spine-tingling ghost tour, with the city streets shrouded in twilight, meant that the atmosphere was perfectly eerie. From chilling tales of haunted halls to the mysterious stories of Little St Mary’s Lane, said to be one of the most haunted spots in Cambridge, there was no shortage of suspense. Some students were properly scared, with our spooky spectral apparitions appearing when they least expected!
Make sure to follow us on instagram @reachcambridge to see all the action happen, and come back here every day to follow along with our student’s journeys!
