Lily Indira Kirkby: JCR Welfare Officer
Age: 19
Subject: History of Art (2nd Year)
Hometown: York
Why did you want to be a JCR welfare officer?
Like Rajiv, I have also been a member of the JCR Committee before as for 2020-21 I was the JCR LGBTQ+ Officer. While a more specific and focussed role, a large part of it concerned providing welfare support and helping my fellow peers which I thoroughly enjoyed and wanted to do again. The JCR Committee is a wonderful place to make a difference and to raise student concerns – for me it is this advocacy and ability to make positive changes around college that is very important, and so I wanted the chance to help and contribute to Tit Hall’s wonderful environment.
Why did you choose your subject?
Since I was little I’ve always loved visiting museums and galleries whenever I can, which quickly turned into an academic interest in the History of Art. Before starting Sixth Form I undertook work experience at the Fitzwilliam Museum and University Library which confirmed my interests and led me to pick History of Art, History and French at A Level, while also convincing me to apply to Cambridge. History of Art has let me explore so many different periods and cultures (this year alone I’ve looked at Medieval Jerusalem and the visual culture of China), and I feel so lucky to study it here! The course is also very small, with around 25 people in each year, so there is such a strong sense of community and bonding between everyone – nothing beats our Faculty building either!
What do you hope to do when you leave Trinity Hall?
While I am not completely certain, I would love to study for a Masters in Art History in London or Montreal, with the hope of then working in a major international auction house such as Sotheby’s/Christie’s or for an art dealer. My dream career would take me around the world, allow me to acquire new languages, and perhaps even let me practice my rusty French!
What does Trinity Hall mean to you?
As cliché as this sounds, the first time I set foot in Tit Hall I fell in love! I remember visiting Cambridge on an open day, with Tit Hall being the first college I looked around – I might as well have not visited any other colleges as I knew this was the place for me. Tit Hall really has lived up to those expectations in the last year and a half that I have been here, acting as a home away from home. There is such a range of people here, contributing to an exciting, eclectic and friendly community, and I feel that the friendships I have become extensions of my family.
How do you look after your own wellbeing?
To look after my wellbeing I really try to find a balance between work and relaxation, allowing the latter to take precedence at some points. It is really easy, especially at the moment during lockdowns, to feel a bit unmotivated and just quite bored, but I try and alleviate this by playing musical instruments (from not being too terrible at the harp, piano and saxophone, to being pretty awful at the piano accordion, ukulele and tin whistle) and reading for a bit of escapism. As I’m living at Wychfield this term I try and get out and about for walks with some friends who are also back in Cambridge, while also making sure to catch up with other friends dispered around the country and the world!