To new beginnings and inspiring perspectives
After months of eagerly waiting, the time finally came when I got to meet the rest of the WHT cohort. We had been quite active on our WhatsApp group through the summer, but being able to meet everyone in person was very exciting in itself.
On Friday, September 22nd, we gathered at Worcester College for the Welcome Weekend. The day started with an introduction to the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme, followed by our first Moral Philosophy seminar, where we discussed thought-provoking ideas on Power. Should one govern by love or by fear? What is the goal of power? Should the type of leadership be different for minority and oppressed groups? It was interesting to hear the perspectives of environmentalists, lawyers, health experts and computer scientists, all from different countries, speaking from their experiences of how these ideas play out where they live.
WHT cohort 2023-24
Scholars in discussion during the Moral Philosophy seminars
I had come to Oxford with a strong set of views, but sitting in a room discussing these philosophical concepts with people giving examples of what happens in their countries has helped me question my own views and place them in a larger global context. It made me feel a lot wiser, but also tinier in my now expanding bubble.
We heard the perspectives of other scholars on politics, music, or even how we were feeling at that moment. We spoke about how we were excited, anxious and curious all at once. I learnt about mezcal (or the Mexican tequila), saw a Masaai dance and danced to the beats of Olha a Onda, a popular song in Brazil. This was a nice way to get a peek into the (exciting) parts about where everyone is from- all places I would like to visit someday!
Through the weekend, we also had a kickstart on the Business Challenge. We formed groups based on the idea we were interested in and sketched out a brief plan of what we wanted to work on throughout the year. This was a quick-thinking exercise- all of us had to come up with an idea that we more or less agreed on (much more challenging than I thought!). I’m looking forward to how our ideas will materialize as most of us are building a business idea for the first time.
Our first formal dinner at Worcester College
To add to all the fun, the weekend was supplemented with very “English and Oxford things”- an evening at the pub drinking beer and eating fish and chips, a tour of Oxford, and looking at the glorious Radcliffe Camera while enjoying scones and English tea- with a dash of cold milk. The weekend ended with our very first formal dinner at Oxford, where many scholars dressed in their country’s traditional attire.
It feels wonderful to come to Oxford and instantly have made new friends- we hang out together all the time, whether it be a picnic in Port Meadow while the English sun still lasts, or dinner at the various cafes in Oxford. I have already learnt new things and can’t wait to soak in what this year has in store for us! If it is going to be like what the first few days have been, I know I’m going to love it here, much more than I had imagined.
