Meet Tobias, fourth year Linguistics and Spanish student Image Why did you choose the University of Edinburgh? I liked the idea of being able to change your degree quite freely with the Honours city, and I loved the city itself. Why did you choose your course and what do you like about it the most? I swapped to Linguistics from English Literature at the start of second year because I had chosen Linguistics as my elective and found it intriguing and challenging, and more suited to my analytic strengths. I love it because it constantly makes me ask questions about the way we communicate, and I love Spanish because it allows me to get closer to culture of Spain and Latin American countries What’s your most fond of memory of living in Edinburgh so far? My fondest memory would have to be cycling down to Portobello beach on a cold but bright January morning in 1st year with a few friends, and swimming in the icy cold water having taken a little dutch courage Why did you choose to become a student caller? I knew it would be a challenging but also rewarding occupation. To ask relative strangers over the phone to give away their money is not an easy thing to do, but I also recognized the opportunity to find out more about how the University works and how it has changed over the years by talking to alumni What do you like most about being a caller? It has taught me so much about the many great things the University and its students do today, as well as in the past. Apart from that, I’ve met some great people and enjoyed getting to know them better at the socials. What did you miss most? (from the cancelled campaigns last year) I missed the sense of camaraderie in the office, but also the sense of optimism and positive connection which comes with working in charity, something that’s easy to lose in a pandemic… What are you looking forward to in this year’s telethon campaign? I’m most looking forward to great conversations with alumni. What has been your experience talking to alumni of the university? I’ve had all sorts of conversations with alumni, ranging from enlightening and inspiring ones, to stressful and sobering ones to be frank, especially with those who didn’t enjoy their time at university. Any advice/quote/story from alumni that you found meaningful to you in any way? Please include explanation An alumn told me that when she was at the university, she was a member of the Huggabugga Jaffa Cake society, which involved partaking in hugs and eating lots of jaffa cakes. Sadly, this society no longer exists (I would try to rejuvenate it if I wasn’t in 4th year!) but it made me realise how important it is not to take yourself too seriously and enjoy life, because it makes for the best stories later on. What question do you wish you could ask alumni but are too scared to ask? Can I work for you when I graduate? What questions do you wish alumni ask you that never gets asked? More about what the Edinburgh Fund does! Donation links: Make a regular gift Make a single gift This article was published on 2024-10-29
