I arrived at Jesus College in 2022 as a Harvard Social Studies Exchange student. Initially, I was compelled to pursue the program due to the academic freedom it offered, excited to work closely with leading thinkers in self-directed studies around climate change ethics. Upon starting at Jesus, though, I realised that I also gained the opportunity to join an incredible community of wonderfully eclectic and deeply welcoming scholars and peers. My Jesus experience was also formative for me as a climate justice activist. Sharing knowledge and building relationships with Cambridge fossil fuel divestment activists inspired new forms of organising against fossil fuel industry influence in climate research. I continued this organising when I returned to Harvard, leading me to co-found the non-profit organisation Campus Climate Network, which empowers campus climate activists across the UK and the world. Studying abroad at Jesus further gave me the confidence to live and work abroad now as a Fulbright Peru scholar. Ultimately, I am most grateful for all of the people – in particular, Professor Duncan Kelly, Artea Brahaj and Sahaj Singh, the house of 37 Jesus Lane and the original Fossil Free Research campaign for making my Jesus experience unforgettable and truly life-changing.
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