Sabi B, Sidney Sussex, Cambridge, Mentor, 2023
Monday 3rd July
Monday was just the beginning of the inspiring and thought-provoking classes and entertaining activities ahead. Participants eagerly headed to their first lessons of the day with their world-class tutors. At lunch, they bonded with their Mentor Families as mentors took participants to their favourite local places. Participants were then taken on a Walking Tour around Cambridge, visiting iconic landmarks with expert insiders sharing insights into the history behind the different places. The day concluded with a Fireside Chat whereby Mentors and participants sat in the cosy Mong Hall and conducted a Q&A session, answering all questions relating to academia and Cambridge student life.
Tuesday 4th July
After morning class, participants headed into town on their own for lunch, taking the opportunity to get to know the city a little more – which would come in handy for their afternoon activity. Mentors organised a Scavenger Hunt – whereby participants would have to quickly make their way around town, snapping photos of landmarks, colleges, and items on their checklist, to get as many points as possible. The winners were rewarded with a free Jack’s Gelato!
In the evening, participants played a game of Werewolf – utilising analytical and observational skills in this game of strategy, as villagers tried to catch out the ‘werewolf’ slaughtering the townspeople. It was great fun and allowed students to get to know each other while also letting off some steam after a long but energetic day in the city.
Wednesday 5th July
There were lots of exciting activities on Wednesday, including mentor-led sports at Christ’s Piece. The weather was nice and sunny, so it was a great time to get students out and about and so the trend continued into the afternoon as participants were taken on tours to various Cambridge Colleges: St. Johns, Kings, Corpus Christi, Selwyn – just to name a few! Many were appreciative to see the inside of these colleges – normally closed to the public – and were in awe of their architectural beauty.
The evening came to a close as participants experienced their first ever Cambridge Formal at Fitzwilliam College – a lovely candlelit, three-course dinner, ending with a small celebration for Ibby, our College Manager, as it was his birthday! Participants enjoyed dressing up, and some Mentors even wore their iconic gowns – as they explained to participants the university tradition that gowns are often worn to formal dinners.
Thursday 6th July
After a busy few days as participants settled into the programme, they relaxed in punts in the afternoon. They were guided along the river, learning some interesting facts about Cambridge in the process, piecing together what they already knew from their own explorations in the city with expert guidance.
Participants then headed to the first ever ‘Casino’ night – playing Blackjack, Poker, and Roulette – as well as more familiar games, such as Uno. They were encouraged to wear something smart, black, or red – fitting in with the theme of the night, as Mentors completely transformed the Hall into a game room: banners on the wall, balloons, and lights…participants were immersed in the activity as soon as they stepped in.
Friday 7th July
As classes for the week came to a close, the fun definitely did not stop there. The Immerse Sports Day was in full swing – participants headed to Jesus Green to compete against one another in games of dodgeball, and football and raced each other in a sprint. Prizes were awarded to the participants who won games, and it was a fun, friendly, and competitive vibe all around. Participants say they wished it was longer!
However, they were not left waiting for another activity for too long, as straight after dinner they headed to the wildly popular Quiz Night. Categories included pop culture, music, and trivia – as well as one very special round: participants had to guess which baby photo matched each mentor! Winners were given various Cambridge trinkets and merchandise to keep.
Saturday 8th July
The long-awaited Oxford excursion is finally here! Participants left the college early in the morning and eagerly headed to the coach leaving for Oxford. Upon arrival, participants were given free time to explore the rival city, grab some lunch, and do some shopping. Mentors then gave the participants a Walking Tour, visiting various libraries and colleges, as well as exciting landmarks.
After arriving back in Cambridge and having some dinner, participants were invited to relax and unwind at Movie Night, as we watched Harry Potter and snacked on some popcorn – the perfect end to the day.
Sunday 9th July
Participants left for London early in the morning, ready to take on the big city! We walked to Covent Garden, seeing an array of landmarks and snapping plenty of pictures. They were then free to explore in and around the area, visiting the various markets and shops, hanging out with one another, and enjoying the taste of independence – creating long-lasting, wholesome memories along the way.
They were sad to leave the city, however, little did they know they had an exciting surprise for them on the way back: a Pyjama Party! Using the Immerse Netflix account, we watched the Taylor Swift Reputation Tour, singing along to her concert together. Participants otherwise used this time to work on personal projects, private study, or to simply relax and hang out with friends.
