Seeing yourself here: why outreach matters

I got involved in outreach in my first year when I helped out with the first ‘You’ll Fit In’ residential at Trinity Hall. At the time, I was the JCR BME Officer, so I had been invited to take part, but I found that outreach work was something I kept coming back to. I had such a good time and, more importantly, I realised very quickly how meaningful the work could be.

Cambridge is unique, but a lot of it can feel inaccessible from the outside. The application process, the academic expectations and even day-to-day life here can seem opaque. For me, outreach is about breaking that down and making it feel more possible, especially for people from underrepresented backgrounds. When I was applying to Cambridge, I didn’t know anyone from my area or background who had gotten in, let alone someone who looked like me. Navigating that, particularly from an intersectional background, felt especially difficult, which is why this work was so important to me from the beginning.

A lot of what I enjoy most about outreach is quite simple – I love being able to speak to prospective students about applying to Cambridge, and Trinity Hall more specifically. Over time, being here can make it easy to forget how exciting and unusual it is – you settle into routines and it all becomes very normal. When you speak to students who are thinking about applying, you’re reminded of the prestige, and the joy and the whimsy of it all. Those conversations help me to reconnect with that perspective, reminding me how lucky I am and how much I have to be grateful for.

Throughout my degree, I have been involved in all sorts of outreach activities, from tours to panels and webinars, but the core is always the same. Most of my time is spent talking to prospective applicants about what Cambridge is actually like – my course, my experiences, and anything they’re curious about. My conversations tend to be quite informal, and that is one of the things that makes it most effective. Outreach works best when people are honest and real about their experiences, and both parties are willing to give equally.

For me, the effect on the young people that I work with keeps me coming back. There’s no doubt that Cambridge can be daunting, especially if you don’t see yourself reflected in the ‘typical Cambridge student.’ One of the most valuable things about being a student here is the ability to share your experiences and perspectives. When I was applying to Trinity Hall, I made a list of questions I wanted to ask so I could understand what it was really like here. Outreach is, in many ways, about being that person for someone else.