Hey! I’m Lily, this year’s GCSU (Gonville & Caius Student Union) Access Officer. I’ve just finished my first year studying Linguistics.

My main role as Access Officer is to encourage prospective applicants to apply to Caius. I find this comes naturally to me - I have honestly loved my first year here at the college and jump at the opportunity to promote Caius. This sense of pride for Caius is something I’ve found throughout the student body, and this is reflected by the amazing support I get from people signing up to open days, online outreach events and subject-specific taster sessions.

I have lived my whole life in Hull, East Yorkshire. I love my hometown, but unfortunately, there is a general feeling there that people like us - working class and northern - don’t go to places like Cambridge University. I remember having conversations with my friends about how we felt like we wouldn’t fit in there, like there wouldn’t be a space for us. I studied at Wyke Sixth Form College and they did an amazing job at supporting me through my application to Cambridge (despite deciding I wanted to apply only a month before the deadline!) and making me feel like I deserved a space. I know that other people from underrepresented backgrounds may not get that support, so in my role I try my best to provide that encouragement for them.

Caius’ student body is so diverse, and I think it’s super important to bust the idea that there is one typical “Cambridge Student”. Our social media is one way that we try to achieve this, showing that Cambridge might not be as serious as it first appears (a highlight for me is the Wes Anderson-style library vlog!). I’m excited to move into my second year here at Caius and look forward to welcoming the new freshers into the Access Team!

Lily's email is jcraccess@cai.cam.ac.uk.