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Another busy year for Antonio

Posted 11th July 2024
by Antonio

My third term of my second year at Oxford is now complete. And overall, this term went well. Sometimes it is surprising to notice how quickly time goes. But there is also something beautiful about sitting back and reflecting on the progress made.
Academically, I've been studying French Early Modern Authors, focusing on Molière and Racine. I enjoyed it, despite it being different from my other choices (more focussed on Modern Periods of Literature). My tutor, an expert in the field, never failed to transmit her enthusiasm. I managed the weekly workload of essays, 4 translations, presentations, and other tasks, though more time would always be more helpful.

This term, I attended many events, including the African and Caribbean Society Handover Ball, the Simopoulos Dinner, and an end-of-year Ethnic Minorities event I organised. The Handover Ball marked the end of my two-year committee role at the ACS. It has been quite moving to reflect on the past two years I spent with this committee, the impact we made, and how this has been a key part of my journey. The Simopoulos Dinner was an alumni event which really prompted me to think about where I can see myself after graduation. Organising the Ethnic Minorities event highlighted another fulfilling role now ending.

Looking forward, I have an upcoming Year Abroad, where I'll spend 7-8 months teaching English, improving my French, and working on my thesis. I'm excited to impact children's education, using skills from my past teaching experience in Indonesia. The rest of my Year Abroad is yet to be confirmed.

All in all, I can see my activities building a foundation for my future - I have also been working towards my career by attending open days and joining mentoring programs. I would strongly suggest everyone to do the same, especially during their second year at university. Putting effort into my work meant that I was also a Top 10 Finalist for the Undergraduate of the Year Award. This led to an internship with Rolls-Royce. While I explore my career options, I'm excited to gain more business knowledge in the field of Operations and Supply Chain.

Over this term, I discovered that life holds countless opportunities and surprises, many of which we can't even begin to imagine. But believing that these possibilities exist should motivate us to invest care and effort into everything we do. I never imagined I would feel so at home at the ACS, meet so many inspiring individuals at a dinner, or experience the pride that comes from organising an entire event. These unexpected joys have enriched my journey and reaffirmed the value of embracing every moment with dedication and enthusiasm.

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