The Exponential Strength of Our Volunteers.

I really just wanted to continue my involvement with the Rhodes Trust after I left Oxford. I had a wonderful time while at Oxford and the Rhodes community was a vital part of that experience. Of course, I also read for two degrees courtesy of the Trust, so this was my way of saying ‘Thank you’ and contributing for future generations of Scholars. 

Two things; learning about and meeting brilliant young people from all over the world, and (re)connecting with past Scholars across decades and fields. It’s a great way to be reminded of the amazing work others are always doing, even as I’m busy with mine. 

Do it!

My DPhil years at Oxford were difficult ones. In addition to living away from my home country for the first time, I also struggled to deal with workplace bullying, occasional racism, an unsupportive supervisor, and impostor syndrome. The greatest pastoral resource I found was within the Rhodes community, including not only my peers, but also upper-year Scholars, the Rhodes House staff, the Wardens, and especially Mary Eaton! Part of my motivation in volunteering for the Scholars’ retreats was to give back. I wanted to help guide the younger Scholars’ experience at Oxford in any way I could, sharing perspectives (not only my own, but of my peers and upper-year Scholars), stories, and resources. I wanted to communicate to them that the Rhodes Trust is a great source of pastoral support, and generally to share information learned through my own journey at the University that I wish I had known when I was starting out.

I have consistently been amazed by the Scholars in Residence that I meet at the CSLP retreats. It has been a privilege to learn about their work, their ideals, and their goals, and assist them in reflecting and starting to synthesise their own ‘way to lead’, and what a ‘good life’ may look like for them. I always leave the CSLP events full of energy and brimming with ideas, with the Scholars’ enthusiasm having rubbed off on me.

I believe that volunteering for programmes such as the CSLP is an excellent way for you to share your experiences and strategies in navigating not only your studies, but your careers and found was within the Rhodes community, including not only my peers, but also upper-year Scholars, the Rhodes House staff, the Wardens, and especially Mary Eaton! Part of my motivation in volunteering for the Scholars’ retreats was to give back. I wanted to help guide the younger Scholars’ experience at Oxford in any way I could, sharing perspectives (not only my own, but of my peers and upper-year Scholars), stories, and resources. I wanted to communicate to them that the Rhodes Trust is a great source of pastoral support, and generally to share information learned through my own journey at the University that I wish I had known when I was starting out. 32 personal lives, with Scholars who may themselves either be struggling in these areas or may simply be too busy with academic work to find the time to think about life outside of the University. These Scholars are brimming with potential, ideas, and excitement about their work, issues close to them, and ways that they want to fight the world’s fight, and you’ll be doing yourself a disservice by turning down the opportunity to spend a weekend with them. I promise that you will find yourself learning from them as much as they learn from you and the CSLP readings.