Bella
Visiting Student, Mathematics, 3rd Year
I am a visiting student from the College of the Holy Cross in the US. There, I am double majoring in Mathematics and Health Studies with a minor in Statistics. I did not realize coming to Oxford was possible when I first started university. However, in my second term of first year, I developed a strong relationship with my Mathematical Structures professor. One day I met with her out of class, and she told me I should consider applying to study at Oxford for a year. Once that conversation occurred, Oxford existed at the forefront of my mind; I knew I would do everything and anything possible to guarantee that I would be at Oxford come third year. In a way, it consumed me. I spent hours researching all that is Oxford, drafting my Mathematics portfolio and personal statement, and imagining what it would be like if I actually were accepted. After a perfect 4.0 fall term in 2020, I realized that my goal was not delusional; I stood a chance. After weeks of frantically refreshing my email, on March 1, 2021, my phone went off at 2:43 AM with an email notification from St Edmund Hall Admissions: “Dear Miss Giaquinta, We are pleased to offer you a place on the 2021-22 Visiting Student programme at St Edmund Hall…” I easily consider this one of the best moments of my life and cannot imagine my academic career without the Hall being a part of it.
Intellectually challenging by nature, Maths and its quantitative depiction of natural phenomenon provides the power to tackle world questions with certainty. My degree has helped me understand patterns, quantify relationships, and think critically about building solutions to global challenges. There is nothing more fulfilling than working on a complex problem and finally arriving at the correct answer.
Being a woman in the male-dominated field of mathematics, I frequently get asked about my experience. Although I try not to view myself as an anomaly, I would be lying if I said I have not felt out of place or outnumbered. I am a member of the Oxford University Ski Team, and at my first social, someone on the men’s team asked me what I study. When I responded, he smirked and said: “I would have never guessed. You don’t look like someone who studies Maths.” – as if my appearance or gender could tell him anything about my intellectual capacity and quantitative ability – as if exuding femininity through my appearance makes me incapable of solving partial differential equations or learning Python. I think there is an expectation for women* in STEM fields to bifurcate their feminine traits, keeping them separate from their academic or professional identities to avoid fitting corrosive stereotypes. To me, being a woman in Maths means many things: it is defying misconceptions and challenging myself on a daily basis. It is not, however, tailoring myself to male-identifying individuals in my field.
After the Hall, I will be focusing on my fourth-year dissertation, where I will be partnering with the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights. My goal is to leverage the power of machine learning, using only baseline data from patients to predict their risk of social vulnerability and severe PTSD. Once complete, my undergraduate studies will come to an end.
Concerning life beyond university, I am motivated to meet my academic disciplines of Maths and health studies at their intersection. I plan to pursue a career in which I can use Mathematical models and quantitative data analysis to address unmet medical needs. Companies that support clinical development, especially through rare disease assessment and immunology research, interest me the most. I strive to gear my methodological, quantitative training toward authentic, real-world issues, and view Oxford as a truly transformative environment for me to have garnered my spirit of inquiry in.
Outside of work, coming to Oxford as a visiting student was a bit daunting to begin with. For 0th and 1st week, the only people I knew were other visiting students. In a way, I felt slightly disconnected from the rest of college. One day in the library, a fellow American student invited me to women*’s drinks in the college bar. I remember hiding in the bathrooms near the JCR 10 minutes after the event started, texting my mom and feeling anxious as to whether or not I should go in. Little did I know that would be the night I would meet some of my closest friends. Going to the college bar with the Hall’s Women*’s Social Sport on Thursday evenings is now the highlight of my week. Attending these nights helped me further get involved in the Hall as well. For example, I started playing for the Women*’s football team this term, whose training sessions are the perfect outlet for reducing stress. I always look forward to getting active, all while having fun with my mates and boosting Hall Spirit.
My favourite memory of the Hall so far is definitely Christmas Dinner. One of my best friends, Rachel Trippier, is our JCR Vice President. She was able to invite our friendship group to sit with her on the high table, which made the night extra special! Standing on chairs, wearing our paper crowns, and singing Christmas songs all together was unforgettable. It was also snowing outside that night, and seeing the front quad covered in snow was stunning.
What do you think of when you hear ‘Women of the Hall’?
Feelings of community indubitably exist within the women* of the hall. Our sense of togetherness can be seen in many facets of college life, from library dates and Pret walks to sports practices and Cambridge tours. However, there is nothing quite like WOTH, a themed night at the end of week 5 where all the Teddy women* dress in costume for a silly night out.
On a more serious note, when I hear ‘Women of the Hall,’ I think about my friends that are women*. I think about the times where I am in desperate need of a vent and know they will always listen to me. I think about how I know I could approach any of the women* at Teddy and feel supported. I also remember the women* staff and faculty members, and all the work they put in to making my university experience a positive one. Although there is no narrow definition of the ‘Teddy Hall woman,’ in every Teddy woman, I see intelligence, worthiness, genuineness, and friendship.