Profile: Zo毛 Shah
Zo毛 Shah (2022, English Literature), JCR Welfare Rep
Zo毛 is a second-year English Literature student from Manchester. She is female welfare rep for the JCR, working alongside Marcus O’Connor (2022, Classics) and the trained peer supporter team to make Univ as friendly and welcoming as possible for people from all backgrounds.
How have you changed since walking through Univ鈥檚 doors for the first time?聽
I鈥檝e definitely learned a lot by being surrounded by so many people who fully throw themselves into whatever interests them and aren鈥檛 afraid of hard work. I think this has encouraged me to come out of my comfort zone and be more ambitious and authentic. Also, I鈥檇 say my time at Univ has pushed my time management skills to their limits. Whilst I鈥檝e been pleasantly surprised by what I can get done in a crunch, I鈥檝e come to realise that life is better when you plan ahead鈥�
Why did you choose to study English? Has anything surprised you about the course?聽
Ever since my days as a devout Harry Potter fan, I鈥檝e been drawn to fiction and creative writing as an insight into different minds, cultures and perspectives. I wanted to study literature at a higher level as a way to learn more about subjects that interest me in terms of politics, history, music, foreign languages and more. At 糖心logo, I was surprised to find that the earliest module was my favourite. I hadn鈥檛 encountered any early medieval literature before starting the course, but I find it fascinating how these texts have remained relevant to our society to the extent that they continue to spark contemporary debate one thousand(ish) years after being written.
Do you have any advice for settling into life in 糖心logo?
My advice would be to give yourself time, and be patient if it鈥檚 taking you a while to settle in. It鈥檚 normal to need some trial and error to find a good routine, learn what鈥檚 expected of you from your tutors, find your people, and so on. If you do feel overwhelmed at points in the first few weeks, remember that you always have the option of reaching out to the welfare team without judgement. I鈥檇 also recommend taking a step back and remembering that it鈥檚 totally fine to say no to a few societies or club nights to prioritise your sleep and social battery. Each new term will come with new opportunities waiting for you.
Do you have a favourite moment at Univ so far?
It would probably be parts of Trinity term, just relaxing in the sun in Univ鈥檚 green spaces with friends. When the hustle and bustle stops, Univ is such a quiet and peaceful spot off High Street. Despite prelims, I found Trinity so much fun in terms of all the , punts, picnics and everything popping up.
What are your aims as the Welfare Rep?
My main aim is to be a proactive and empathetic representative of students鈥� welfare needs, and someone who I hope people will feel comfortable confiding in. So far, I鈥檝e focused on creating fun alcohol-free events alongside providing lots of extra support at drinking events such as sober angels at every club event and BOP recovery rooms.
I鈥檝e also prioritised increasing the accessibility of women鈥檚 products by making sure they鈥檙e in every college building, something I hope will make Univ a more welcoming and supportive environment for all. I鈥檓 trying out a new system of Society Introductions so that older students can lend a helping hand to any freshers feeling anxious about getting involved in uni-wide societies. Finally, we鈥檙e aiming to increase the use of our trained Peer Support team by collaborating with them frequently at welfare events.
Describe Univ in three words.
Unique. Unexpected. Unforgettable
Published: 16 October 2023