My Experience at Reach Cambridge

I studied at Cambridge University for two weeks through the Reach Cambridge Program. For the first time in my life, I lived in a completely different country alone, studied at a university level, and lived in dorms. 

Through Reach Cambridge, I got to meet people from all over the world, debate at the Cambridge Union, and go punting on the River Cam. I listened to a dramatic reading of “Holes” by Louis Sachar, attempted to create a Tableaux Vivant at the Fitzwilliam Museum, and thoroughly discussed Romanticism to the point where I felt like crying (in a romantic way, of course.)

Everyone in my corridor and class was older than me, so I felt like I had to play catch up. I got asked about what university I’ll be attending and what I got on AP tests frequently, and I spouted variations of the same thing multiple times a day: “Oh, I’m a rising sophomore in high school. Nope, no APs. Yes, I’m serious.”

I stayed at Downing College, which was in the middle of the city center. My class was in Trinity Hall, about a ten-minute walk from Downing daily. I was in a Creative Writing and Literature class that ran for four hours each day, and then afterward we got the rest of the day to explore and do whatever we wanted. 

The class mainly focused on literature, and we spent each of our days on different things. For example, our first day was spent on an extensive history of the literary canon. We identified when female authors and authors of color started getting introduced to the canon, and why it happened when it did. My favorite day was when we discussed Romanticism and looked at art from the period with the literature. I visited Shakespeare’s birthplace, watched “King Lear” at the Globe, and got to study at one of the best universities in the world - who wouldn’t love it?

After class, I spent my free time wandering around with my friends or with my head stuck in a book at Waterstones. I read a lot of books, mainly written by Anglocentric authors– Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Zadie Smith, Salman Rushdie, and many more. My favorite book was Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of My Own” which quickly rose to the top of my list for my all-time favorite reads. 

Being in a completely different country than my parents for the first time was eye-opening, and it gave me a rough idea of what college will be like. I had to do many things I don’t usually do- call credit card companies, shop for my own groceries, and choose where to go to dinner (even though the easy choice was YO! Sushi). After this experience, I feel as if I’ve grown as a writer and as a person. While studying with people far more advanced than me was difficult, it refreshed my love for writing and made me strive to learn more.

Growing accustomed to the city’s culture, jaywalking became second nature, and the smell of cigarettes grew comforting. This experience was one I’ll never forget, and I definitely recommend Reach Cambridge. It made me realize the specific college route I would want to take, and it gave me a new perspective on literature.

By Caroline Lackey