Blogging My Way Through Uni

It's that time of the year again, where students across the country are at war with their finals whilst resisting the temptations of the good weather outside. In two weeks, first year will have skipped by! Before that though, I've got to sit through my last few exams.

I've taken a step back this month to give myself more time to prepare, nevertheless is has been an interesting month with some healthy distractions. Here are three I'd like to share with you...

Paraiso Costume Launch

Paraiso School of Samba, of which I am a proud member, put on a showcase of all the beautifully designed costumes for this year's carnival season. The night was kicked of with traditional pagode style samba from the amazing band Quintal Do Samba.

The separate sections that will then make up the procession of about 500 odd people representing the school had representatives modelling their costume for this year.

I was lucky enough to sport the costumes that the bateria (drummers) will be wearing for Notting Hill Carnival this year. Sounds weird, but I can't tell you how happy the band is that we've finally got pockets on a parading costume now!

Working for The Challenge

I just finished up the last round of training for a role in the summer as a Music Practitioner for The Challenge. The Challenge is a programme financed by the National Citizen Service that helps put Year 11 leavers in touch with their communities through volunteering.

The programme typically lasts for 3 weeks. The first week consists of team building activities between the groups of participants. The second week, where my role comes in, involves the groups visiting community partners and interacting with them using a skill they learn from the practitioners (art, music, sport, media and drama) as the basis to kickstart their conversations.

I will be working with many groups across the summer, teaching a simplified version of samba to Year 11 leavers across North London. I'm quite excited for this role as I was on the programme myself after finishing secondary school and I look forward to hopefully serving as a positive role model and perhaps helping to spark an interest in samba among the groups I teach!

Woodward BBQs

The amazing team at Woodward (which I will be part of next year) put in two amazing BBQs this month! A large majority of those at Woodward (the university accommodation) will be finding new places to stay and it was really nice to get everyone together before the summer. Also who can say no to free food and drinks?!

There is a strong sense of community here at Woodward and I look forward to helping to nurture that next year with the team of wardens, sub-wardens and hall seniors.

I hope you have all enjoyed the bank holiday weekend!  Wish me luck with my exams.

I turned 21 this month! I have to say its been one of the best birthday months I've had so far - and thats saying something. But I am sure that after you read this month's blog you will agree with me. Ill give you three reasons why this has been a month to remember...

I met Obama!

Thanks to the AMOS Bursary and their relationship with the US Embassy, I was lucky enough to be asked to attend a 'Town Hall' with the president on his visit to the UK. Waking up at 5:30 AM on a cold Saturday and waiting for what seemed like an eternity in a line before entering a building has never been so worth it!

It took me a few days for everything to properly sink in. But I was in the same room as Obama, one of the greatest men to ever walk the planet. This was apparent when he walked in the room... silence. Ears perked up, postures straightened and notebooks at the ready. His presence commanded respect and admiration from from everyone in the room. Logic and reason underpinned all his answers to the questions posed by the lucky few in the room.

The greatest take home message that day was the importance of the day was to learn from the past and to understand the fact that change takes time and that this should dishearten those looking to bring about change.

"The arch of history of history is long but it bends towards justice", Obama said, quoting MLK Jr.

The London Mayoral Assembly

I am aware that this month has been quite politically charged, I make no apologies for that! I have never been as proud to be a Let Us Learn campaigner as I was this month.

100 people turned up to the representing Let Us Learn at the Copperbox in the Olympic village. A total of 6,000 people turned up to hold the front-running mayoral candidates, Sadiq Khan and Zac Goldsmith, to account on their promises to the capital once they become mayor. The event was hosted by CitizensUK.

Let Us Learn was represented by Ijeoma whose story received roars from the crowd! I was so proud to see all the hard work we do with the campaign being recognised by 6,000 active campaigners from across the city. You can have a look at the event in its entirety below (Ijeoma's speech starts at around 1:57:00).

Back in the Labs!

The last term of uni has started and we are back in the labs! This is exciting as we are researching how to manipulate the properties of alginate membranes for commercial applications.

The chemistry behind these alginate membranes is the same that drives the production of fake caviar. We are working with a company called Skipping Rocks Labs on their Ooho! Project which aims to encapsulate water in these membranes to reduce the usage of plastic bottles.

Ooho capsules are totally edible and biodegradable. Our work in the labs will inform the company in changing desirable characteristics in the membranes to make them better suited for commercial use. The ingredients for making the capsules are available online and are very safe to handle.

How to make an Ooho capsule

I hope you have enjoyed reading my blog! Have a good month this May and lets pray we get some good weather *fingers crossed*