Lauren
Earth Sciences, 4th Year
I come from a town just outside of Belfast, in Northern Ireland. The majority of people stay in Northern Ireland for University, where they know the area and a lot of people. Moving away was very exciting for me because it gave me a chance to get to know a new place, different types of people and learn new things. A girl in the year above me in school had come to Oxford and would always speak so highly about the people she met here, and to be doing something new and exciting – this was a great encouragement to apply.
I applied to Earth Sciences because I really enjoyed all of the sciences at school, and couldn’t pick between them. Earth Sciences has allowed me to continue studying them all, in an even more interesting and applied way. Throughout my degree I have always enjoyed the biological and chemical side of Earth Sciences. I have been able to delve further into these aspects with my fourth year project, where I am using noble gases to trace leakage from carbon capture and storage sites.
After the Hall I hope to go into the sustainability industry. I am currently applying to grad schemes in the area, and am very thankful for all the useful experiences the Hall has given me to help answer those tricky interview questions. If that doesn’t pan out I’ll hopefully be somewhere sunny…
I play a lot of sport: I have captained the Women’s Hockey team, and with the help of friends set up a Women’s Cricket team. Some of my best memories have been playing sport for the Hall, where win or lose (although rarely), there is always an overwhelming team spirit and fun had by all. On and off the pitch the Women of the Hall are having a good time.
By far my favourite memory of the Hall was winning swimming Cuppers in my first year. It was my first term, and when I first realised what people meant when they talked about the Hall Spirit. We won, not due to our talent, but due to the sheer number of students from Teddy that took part.
What do you think when you hear ‘Women of the Hall’?
I think of 100 smiling faces, drenched in face paint, chanting ‘Teddy Teddy Teddy’.