Humans of Mansfield

My home town is labelled as having the lowest level of social mobility in the country, meaning that it is incredibly difficult to get from there to other places in the country. The way this was described to me was by saying that if you are born there, you are very likely to live there your whole life, raise your own family there, and retire there. I studied at a community college which was coming out of a period of being in ‘special measures’. Coming from this sort of area, my only real aim was to go to university. I could not have even imagined getting in to Oxford!

I applied to Oxford on a whim. I had decided that I wanted to go to Bristol Uni, but I had one choice left and my parents both encouraged me to apply. Before I knew it, I had taken the admissions tests, had an interview, and received an offer. I was obviously shocked, and didn’t even know whether to accept the place as I really wanted to go to Bristol. But I couldn’t turn it down.

Almost as soon as I started here, I knew that that was the right decision. The people I have met here are ‘my people’. We all get along so well, share interests, passion for our subject, motivation and I have really enjoyed all of the time I have spent with them so far. Work does get in the way sometimes, but going to libraries, coffee shops and college together makes the work much more bearable.

I feel like coming here has been such an incredible opportunity. I’ve always been told that the difference between Oxford and other universities is that elsewhere you read books to learn, but here, you are taught by the authors of those books. It’s been an invaluable experience to be taught by world leading experts and it has been inspiring to see their passion.

I could never have believed that I would be in the position I am in now: studying at Oxford, exploring careers in all sorts of sectors, rowing, attending formals, working in insane libraries, even being in the middle of a G7 conference at one point!! ! I could not believe how well I fitted in here, even from such an un-Oxford background. But I hope to help other people feel comfortable here in the same way that I have, regardless of where they come from.

Ellie, 2nd Year PPE, JCR VP Welfare.

I just wanted to try go to the best place in the world I could, that turned out to be Oxford. Not only for myself, but for my local area and for the disabled community I am a part of. Disabled people are often shamed in all aspects of society, and I wanted to prove that wrong. Rhiannon, 2nd Year Geography student talks about her Journey to Oxford. I knew my community deserved to be represented. People like me are intelligent enough to go to Oxford. My experiences at school, in terms of being the only disabled person in my class and made to feel inadequate motivated me to succeed. My dyslexia and ASD diagnoses meant I was never taken seriously as an Oxbridge candidate.

During sixth form I had lots of mental health issues, but this provided me with a focus and one primary goal to not only get better but also improve the lives of others in the same position. I worked hard and I became head girl. I applied myself and proved I could achieve something big. I knew that if didn’t do something bold, nothing would change.

Oxford is great. I love the work, the formals, the bops and social stuff. I enjoy being part of the JCR committee as the disability and mental health officer, representing people like me. I particularly enjoy the tutorial system as it suits my learning, it can get intense, with my disabilities, but the university and tutors are very understanding and supportive. Since being at Oxford I have attended COP 26 which was amazing. The organisation invited me was called green economics institute and I have now become a trustee sitting on their main board of directors. I would like to do a masters course in Middle Eastern Politics and International Relations or Arabic. I have experience working in a charity which focuses on peace and dialogue in Israel-Palestine. I currently a youth advocate representing patient views in the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Contributed to the new mental health act, conferences, and wrote an academic paper published on Wiley.

Despite difficulties in overcoming challenges in the education system I kept the mentality that I could do it when people said I couldn’t, and I enjoyed that. I would advise those in a similar position to always hope, have faith and believe, love you for who you are despite how difficult it might be. In terms of what I wish I could’ve told myself; you can do this. Get reading, get inspired, get independently interested and find something you love.

To be honest I felt a tiny bit uncomfortable when asked to write a Humans of Mansfield post. This platform, quite rightly, is usually telling the stories of those from less advantaged backgrounds or from places where Oxbridge applicants are not as common. I am therefore quite conscious of not fitting this norm. I am from Kent, from a well-off family and I went to a grammar school that catered for an Oxford applicant. Hence, I did not have to overcome the obstacles that many others here had to. However, after some thought, I decided that sharing a story that highlights that not all struggle is external and as plain to see, might be helpful to at least some current or future Mansfield student.

I have often questioned the reason behind Oxford being so ‘pressurised’. Is it perhaps the university forcing students to work so hard? Or is the act of bringing many high achievers and perfectionists across the country into one academic space creating this demanding culture? I personally believe it is the second. I would say I have, sometimes unreasonably, high standards for myself – a trait I don’t think is that rare at Oxford. For a long time, I had to be cleverest, work the hardest, be the most sociable and most confident – without much wiggle room or time for letting up.’ Life gets better if you work harder’ is sort of mindset that gets you here. Building a reputation for all these and holding yourself to them is never sustainable, at least in the long run. I remember the enormous pressure I felt to impress, make friends, and get on top of work when I first joined because thinking that’s the ‘sort of person I am’. The times I have struggled the most here are not because I’m actually failing, but because I’m believing I should be all of these incredible qualities that I simply cannot be day-in-day-out – hence losing perspective.

If there is one environment however, that I love and gives me that perspective, is that provided by Mansfield college sport. Now my friends might laugh that I’m bringing this up as sport is pretty much my personality at this point. However, I think the atmosphere here is what university, and maybe even ‘something bigger’, is about. Whether it’s the late-night kitchen chats; fantasising about the screamer of the goal scored the other day which is now apparently top corner but realistically was middle right. Or the desperation to keep the netball cuppers dream alive under the lights. Or whether it’s the hours spent out on the water trying to make this damn little boat just stay level for once.

I’ve found that in all of these scenarios that people care, but not at the expense of everything else. People want to win, but will happily joke around with the opposition. People try their hardest, but it doesn’t matter what the score is. Sport teaches me that it’s really about that ‘something bigger’. To put in your best, but realising if you fall short of your super high expectations you don’t have to beat yourself up. If I do not feel like being that super bright, chatty and responsible Oxford student I’m supposedly meant to be, that’s ok.

I honestly have made the best friends through college sport. The hilarious memories of walking out to the champions league music to a college football game, the comical blunders out on the water or on the field and the absolute passion are what I will remember about my university experience; not the time I couldn’t answer a couple of questions on a problem sheet, or even if I don’t quite get the grade I want. Sport is often called an extra-curricular, but to me, it is a bit more than just that.

~ Jamie - 2nd Year Engineering Student, rowing ‘captain’, bench-warmer for the Ms football team, netball attacker(?) and hockey enthusiast

Applying and being accepted to study law at Oxford was an entirely surreal experience. When I had spoken to friends or family about the University of Oxford it always seemed like this really grand, posh institution and was so far removed from my everyday life. I had never even dreamed of applying but now I can’t imagine being anywhere else. Being a black woman from South East London, I was used to certain stereotypes or expectations about who I would be and my own potential, and coming to Oxford allowed me to break down those barriers. So, I already had that intimidation about applying to this daunting university, but I am so grateful to my friends and family for encouraging me not to hold back or allow anything to hold me back.

I only thought about applying to Oxford after attending a law open event, that coincidentally led me to discovering Mansfield College. I was a bundle of nerves and really intimidated but I guess what set me at ease was the people I met. They were funny and welcoming - I was also surprised that I met so many Londoners and people like me, which made me feel less alien in the environment. They honestly showed me that whilst Oxford is a university like no other, it is still just a place with some really cool people who share my love for learning.

Being accepted to Oxford was not about filling a quota or being tokenistic; it was about my enthusiasm and willingness to learn. It is an incredible challenge to be here - my insecurities and imposter syndrome do flare up, but I have incredible people who remind me that I deserve to be here, and I really do feel like I have found a place and a community at Mansfield College with my amazing friends and tutors. Being the Ethnic Minorities Officer for the JCR has also been amazing because it has allowed me to have some really important conversations about race and inclusion. It has been so important to me to create an environment (in a place so historically white) which makes people feel welcomed, included and seen. I’ve been really impressed with people’s engagement with that and hope to keep those conversations alive.

At the end of the day, studying here, particularly at Mansfield, has been amazing, frustrating, daunting and exciting all at the same time and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

~ Britney, 2nd year, Law, JCR Ethnic Minorities Officer

I went to state schools my whole life, and hadn’t thought about applying to Oxbridge except in a super general, far-off sense – the way you think about meeting the love of your life in Paris, knowing that’ll never actually happen and it’ll probably be at a crap pub. But my sixth form teachers encouraged me to apply, and feeling that my teachers were behind me encouraged me to think about it more seriously.

When I found out that you could only apply to either Oxford or Cambridge, I figured I should visit both to make sure. I went to Oxford for the first time in the middle of February, and it was freezing. But I fell in love – not just with the pretty buildings, but the atmosphere. It was studious, but so much more chilled out and friendly than I’d imagined. I went to an open day that summer, looking around the colleges with my stepdad. Even though we both thought the traditions sounded weird, I had never felt more excited about a place, and we both knew that this was where I wanted to be.

Fresher’s Week was scary – I’d never really been away from home before, and had only left London for more than a week one time. I cried three times on Tuesday alone. But by the end of the first week, I realised that while I’d been feeling alone, I’d been making friends the whole time. On the first day of Fresher’s Week, I met two of my best friends, and by the time I came back to Oxford after Christmas, I had a firm friendship group who I loved so much. Here were people who didn’t mind when I cried in front of them, and who watched Pride and Prejudice with me, and who would buy even more doughnuts than me on our group trips to Tesco. But Mansfield is a place where you don’t stop making friends; even halfway through my degree, I’m still getting to know people.

Mansfield has become my second home since I arrived. I’ve met my best friends in the world, and learned so much. My tutors are all lovely, and encourage me to improve all the time. Pretty much everyone is a state school student, so we understand how hard we all had to work to get here, and we don’t take anything for granted. We study together, eat dinner together, commiserate over essays together. Everyone here works really hard, both to excel at their degrees, but also to support each other.

~ Lily, 2nd year, English, JCR LGBTQ+ Officer

The first night of Fresher’s Week, I remember lying in my new accommodation on the verge of tears as I was trying to fall asleep. After so many months of summer anticipation, I was all alone for the first time ever. All of the people who I cared for and who cared for me weren’t just in the other room, or a 20 minute drive away; they were in another country entirely. I remember whispering to myself while staring up at the ceiling: “I’m all alone on this continent.”

Clearly, I was a very overdramatic first year — but in truth, I was nothing short of terrified. Coming to the UK and to Oxford was something that I had been told was “so exciting” ever since I first opened that unexpected UCAS result. But now that I was there, all I could think about was being back home in the US.

Let me tell you, this concern did not last very long. I met so many kind Mansfielders during Fresher’s Week, that I completely forgot about how out of place I had felt. Whether having a late night heart to heart in E-Block kitchens (my first-year accommodation block), or a 30 second chat outside the Porter’s Lodge turn into a 15 minute catch-up, it soon became clear to me that it was impossible to be at Mansfield and not feel at home. At Mansfield its always easy to find someone - if not many someones - who are down to get over-the-top dressed up for a Bop, or take an unnecessary trip to Tesco just for the fun of it. I have never been part of a community that has been so close knit, and there is no place I’d rather be.

One night last term, I was staring up at my ceiling (which I seem to do quite a lot) and I realized how different I felt. Maybe it was that I was now in second-year accommodation, rather than my familiar little first-year room in E-Block, but I don’t think that was it. I think I realized that I no longer felt as alone as I used to. Everyone I knew and loved wasn’t on a different continent anymore. Now I had people I knew and loved right here around me, just down the hall, or a mere bike ride away. I have Mansfield to thank for that.

~ Lumi, 2nd year, PPE, JCR Women*’s Officer

Studying at Oxford had never seemed like a possibility until my first year of sixth form, when one of my teachers told me that I should consider applying. At the time I remember thinking that Oxford was not the place for me and that you had to have the knowledge of the Oxford University Challenge team to even be considered, which I can firmly tell you is not the case after performing poorly in numerous lockdown quizzes.

I decided to attend one of the open days. This was the first time I had visited Oxford and I was blown away by how grand and beautiful the city was. Mansfield was the first college I looked around and I was happily surprised by its friendly, inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. Coming from a northern town and being the first member of my family to attend university I was worried that I would seem out of place here. However, this feeling was eliminated when I toured the college and met the current students, which is the reason I decided to apply to Mansfield (obviously it had nothing at all to do with its proximity to my lectures at the Geography department).

After undergoing the daunting application and interview process I received on offer, something I had never even thought was possible a year previously. When I arrived in Oxford I still felt like an imposter, despite the rigorous application processes, but I learnt that this was normal and many students felt the same way. The people I have met at university are passionate about their subject and have a drive to learn more, reminding me daily of the reason I applied here.

The inclusive environment I experienced on the open day has remained despite the challenging situation we currently find ourselves in. This positive, supportive and inclusive atmosphere has helped me over the last one and a half years and is one of the main reasons I applied to be a member of the welfare bench representing students in my college. As the Disabilities and Mental Health Officer I am responsible for representing the needs of JCR members who identify as having mental or physical disabilities. I think this is a very important role within the welfare team, because coming to university is an exciting but challenging time. For many this transition can be very overwhelming: making friends, missing home and adapting to degree level work can be intense, especially this year with the added uncertainty caused by COVID-19. Even once you have settled in, Oxford is a very high-pressured environment, but if you factor in poor mental health or a physical/mental disability on top of this it can make it so much more challenging. Therefore, I believe that the welfare team and the role of the mental health and disabilities officer in particular is very important to ensure that no one feels like they are going through things on their own and that they know what support is available to them.

To students already at Mansfield: Congratulations on reaching 5th week and if you have any questions or need any assistance at all please do get in touch!

~ Erica, 2nd year, Geography, JCR Mental Health and Disabilities Officer

My family history regarding university is an interesting one I guess. My brother did history at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, the same degree I’m now doing here, at a college with a similar reputation for inclusivity. He was absolutely an inspiration from as young as I can remember, but I had to come to Oxford so I could wind him up about being my poorer relation academically now!
But my dad is from a former mining village - almost none of his family or friends went to university at all. Pride was in the football team you support (Sunderland, naturally), not which Oxford college you went to!

So, I suppose as for a lot of Oxonians and Mansfield students in particular, coming to Oxford has been a weird but fun family experience. My mum has been able to take her second son to Oxbridge; my dad got to see the dreaming spires and see our football team win in my adopted home city (1-0 v Oxford United).

Making them both proud and repaying the unconditional faith they’ve always had in me is probably my favourite part of the whole Oxford thing.

My dad has been really surprised that Mansfield isn’t full of the weird bookish private school kids he was taught to associate with Oxford, but that’s what makes me feel at home here. We’re international, diverse and open and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

~ Mitch, 2nd year, History, JCR Men*’s Officer

I had visited Oxford before, when I was younger, but I never considered it as an option until my sixth form college organised an overnight open-day trip to Mansfield College.

The image I had of Oxford as a far-away place of dreaming spires and dedicated, stuffy scholars was slowly dismantled. Almost right away I felt quite comfortable at Mansfield. But the application process, though I had more information, still seemed like a mystery.

I was lucky enough to attend two summer schools – UNIQ and Seren Jesus College summer school – both of which developed my confidence in my abilities as a student and university applicant overall. I met some amazing people and got to know the city and the university better, too.

I had wonderful teachers who gave me lots of advice during the application process. After months of concentrating a lot of effort and energy into my application, ever aware of the possibility of rejection, I was invited to interviews. Someone told me before my interviews at Mansfield College that I would be speaking to people who are just as enthusiastic and passionate about English as I am, which made me feel reassured.

That said, not a lot of people in my area get into ‘Oxbridge,’ and some do not consider university. Like many, I come from a state school background, in an area where there is not much social progression. And whilst I met people who were in the same boat, from different parts of the UK, realising that my GCSE grades were not as strong as other applicants, I waited to hear back after interviews with mixed feelings. After all, I felt like I had worked so hard and come such a long way. And, well, I got in.

The process was worth it, even just for the experience, and my advice to applicants would be not to worry too much. After my first term, especially during a pandemic, it is difficult, but challenges are meant to be taken in stride, and the world will not end if you don’t succeed at first.

~ Chantale, 1st year, English

As cliché as it sounds, it had always been my dream to go to Oxford University to study English. As a little girl, I'd tell people quite matter-of-factly that I would get there one day.

But then, what I thought was reality set in and thwarted that dream. I applied gingerly, with a total lack of confidence and self esteem. The final nail in the coffin came when I attended a day of interview preparation at a private school, one of just four from state schools that had been invited. The most obscure, intense tasks were set, and in a mock interview there, I was told I was naïve. I remember phoning my mam in the lunch break crying that this couldn't possibly be for me.

Suddenly though, a fire was ignited in my belly. Maybe I was naïve. Sure, I wasn't well-versed in the intricacies of something like poetic metre, but I had such a dedicated passion for learning. And this, is what Mansfield saw in me and valued.

Embraced with open arms, with no judgement and preconception, I fell in love with everything about our college, and it truly felt like home from day one. I've only been here one term, and I've grown so much both as a student, and on a personal level. Rather than feeling ashamed to ask questions in the fear that I will seem naïve, I'm actually encouraged to be curious. Thinking back to the girl I was just a year ago, diminished and insecure, my heart breaks for her. If only she knew what was in store for her; the most wonderfully fruitful experience of a lifetime.

~ Annabelle, 1st year, English

I don’t remember when I first found out what Oxford was, but I do remember learning that Harry Potter was filmed there when I was quite young. It became mythical and magical to me in the same way as it appeared on the film set. I always knew I wanted to go to university, but nobody from my school had been to Oxford in years - when we had an assembly on going to Oxbridge in the future I thought I’d never be able to make it; I thought that none of us would. (Two of us in that assembly did.)

The UNIQ summer school gently broke down that mythical image of Oxford I had held in my head - sure, parts of it may look like a magical castle, but it’s just another university to apply to. It’s not otherworldly, it’s here and it’s a possibility. The students are all normal people, and visiting Mansfield felt so comfortable - why not apply? So I made my way through the interviews, got an offer, and then the pandemic hit. My grades were to be decided by my (awful) mocks. I thought it was all over before it had started - but like a saviour, the students of Oxford rose up to speak for us, the offer holders, petitioning the university and its colleges to . My grades were lowered, and yet Mansfield took a chance on me even before the government was forced to make the A-Level U-Turn. I am eternally grateful for it.

Being at Mansfield during the COVID-19 pandemic has been interesting, but then again, I haven’t known anything else yet. Everything they tell you about needing to be more self-motivated is multiplied tenfold when none of your teaching is in person. Not being able to meet everyone has been difficult - I wish we could get to know the other years more - and eating in hall isn’t the same when you’re on a timetable and have assigned seats. But there are some benefits - my small household is close knit, and not having crowded gatherings has made it easier for me to make friends as it’s not as intimidating to break into a group! Some things haven’t changed though - the libraries are open, the Christmas lights are up and we’re all still chugging along as we can. The Class Act Society, Oxford First Gen and Oxford Hub have been brilliant in helping me socialise and feel supported, as has the Mansfield Welfare team.

I don’t regret coming here this year at all. I love it. It definitely isn’t mythical anymore, but I think it’s still magical.

~ Connie, 1st year, PPE

In March my university in the US moved to online learning and sent everyone home. As an international student from Slovenia I was fortunate enough to have a really good friend who offered me to come stay with her family and finish the remaining two months of the semester there. The two months turned into four as flight after flight that I booked to get home got cancelled. But I was staying calm. It was only July and my study abroad program at Oxford wouldn’t start until October. I had time. Then my university cancelled all study abroad programs. After trying so hard to get out of the country, I would have to return in a short month or else study online with a 6 hour time difference. I would not be able to study at Oxford despite all the work that I put in to be the one student my school picks to send here. I could not accept that. I emailed professors and administrators and argued my case until all five vice presidents of my university sat down and considered it. They made an exception for me.

I know that the pandemic makes this experience different. It’s harder to meet people, lots of events are cancelled, and now with the lockdown Oxford is so much quieter. But it is still Oxford—an intellectually incredibly inspiring place with a charming history and interesting people. In times of crisis it is important not to lose track of your blessings—however difficult this academic year is, I feel incredibly fortunate to be here. I did not apply to Oxford after high school because I thought it was a place only for geniuses who know exactly what they want, and I’ve never felt like I know exactly what I want. But Oxford is much more complex than that. I would recommend you to give the application process a shot—sometimes precisely fighting for something makes it clear that you do really want it.

~ Nina, VSP Officer