Oliver Schonle

Date: 28/6/19

Oliver Schonle

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Olly, a first year Philosophy student from London, although I was born in the US. As a Philosophy student I learn about pretty much everything from logic and the philosophy of maths, to questions about morality and goodness.

How has your first year at Cambridge been?
I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year at Cambridge! I was definitely apprehensive of studying here to begin with, especially given the notoriously challenging workload, as well as the challenge of living on my own for the first time and making new friends. It did take a bit of time to adjust to this change, but I soon got into the flow of things, and have had a great first year! Although the first few weeks of Cambridge are a bit of a whirlwind, you quickly settle down and work out how to balance different commitments, what the various Cambridge slang means, how the laundry in college works and so on…

What do you do outside of study?
This year I have been part of the college’s JCR, the JCR being Cambridge-speak for the committee that represents the undergraduate body to the college. As the LGBT+ Officer, I support other students as regards their identity, as well as making sure that everyone feels included in college life. The JCR in general is a fantastic organisation that does a lot for students, from running ‘bops’ (parties) in college to trying to get a greater variety of options in our cafeteria.

How do you relax?
In particular, I enjoy going for runs to relax and de-stress. Selwyn is brilliantly located for this purpose: despite being really near the centre of town, we have gorgeous countryside behind the college, which can be a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the busy town. I also love cooking: although our kitchens sadly don’t have ovens or freezers, you can still make really great meals that are often cheaper than our cafeteria. It’s also much more rewarding to create your own dish! Apart from that, I often just have a cup of tea or a drink in the college bar with my friends after we have all finished work in the evening – it’s a nice way to catch up with everyone with their busy schedules.

What do you hope to do after graduating?
I’m not really sure yet! I’m considering doing a law conversion, but I might also go into charity work after graduating. I think I’ll make my decision during the next year, with help from Cambridge’s Careers Service, which is a really useful resource for helping us choose our path post-graduation.