news & events

Development & Alumni Office

A word from past and present students

Travelling around India
I graduated from St. Clares in May 2004. I really enjoyed my time at St. Clares and became fascinated by other cultures and traditions. As a result I decided to take a gap year to travel rather than going straight onto university.
I am interested in medicine but haven't applied to medical school since it is the science-part of medicine, which interests me rather than the clinical aspects. Instead I have applied for several courses, which include joint honours in anatomy & physiology, medical biology and biomedical sciences. I don't know where these courses will take me, I don't know what opportunities there are for graduates of such courses but I hope for success. If anyone has followed the same route through university I would be really interested to find out your story and what it is you do now with your degree.
I am currently working in the development and alumni office at St. Clares to earn money to take out with me. I am travelling alone, with slight apprehension but look forward to discovering places I've only dreamed about. My first stop is Cairo, Egypt where I will be working in a primary health clinic on the periphery of the city. I am currently learning Arabic to help me communicate with the patients and know enough French to get by if my Arabic proves incomprehensible.
After 6 weeks in Cairo I will be going to India - flying into Dehli in the middle of March. I have never been to India before and am getting cold feet. I hope to meet people in India who may be able to show me around a little and make the trip less daunting. I find it hard to get a real feel for the place by visiting attractions, which are flooded with tourists. Instead I want to try and take a more cultural approach by visiting local markets or eating with an Indian family for example- it is those aspects of day-to-day life which interest me the most. Perhaps if there are any alumni in India who could help to reassure me about my visit or even recommend certain places to see or do which will encapsulate India in 3 weeks and help me to get the experience I am looking for out of it, please get in contact with me. I would love to hear what you have to say and would be most grateful for your help.
After my time in India I will be flying out to Thailand. Where I hope my time in India will prepare me to take on Thailand, and beyond, as a competent solo traveller!

Miranda Mylne - class of 2004
miranda.mylne@stclaresoxford.org
(We were very happy to have Miranda in the Development Office and wish her all the best in her gap year.)

A typical CAS (Creativity, Action & Service) activities list
Well, typical, I think most people would find my CAS record a little over the top, but it did help me finish my CAS activities, so that now I am in my second year, I do not have to worry about that any more.
My first term was the busiest, I believe. Not only did I do activities during the week, I also did quite a lot of things during the weekend, even though I am Non-Res (non-residential student). My week started with Environmental Action Group, and the Homeless/Hunger Support Group on Monday, then Piano Lessons (I started from scratch), Yoga, Latin Funk Dance and Food Transport ( to the homeless shelter) on Tuesday, Theatre Workshop on Wednesday and Aerobics on Thursday. This meant I had Fridays free and that I had three Creativity, two Action and two Service activities a week. My piano counted for almost three hours a week as well, because I worked quite hard and practised on average two hours a week.
Apart from weekly activities, as I said, I did quite a lot during the weekend. I took up Wilderness Challenge during Autumn's half term for a weekend and this resulted in another 20 hours or so. Also we went through to the finals, which meant another weekend in Spring term. Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award also meant anther two weekends.
During Spring and Summer term, I dropped a few activities and took up a few others. Over all I had 306 CAS hours after my first year, and I am still doing 3.5 hours a week now to complete my Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, which includes two training weekends and almost a whole week of expeditions.
I guess to say that I enjoyed (and still do) the activities is a little understated, but I did learn a lot, not only skills, but also people, that I hope to take with me as I carry on after St. Clare's.

Jennifer Toonen - class of 2005