What is an interesting fact about you?

Mine is that I am trilingual. I had narrowed it down to about six riveting truths about myself, but this was the easiest to elaborate. If anything, it may be the best one use to explore the enigma which is Kaitlyn- a second-year architectural engineering student here at Christ Church.

SHONA

“Mwana wevhu”

meaning “child of the earth”

At the marrow of my bone is my mother tongue. My culture and customs are a core part of my identity, both idealistically and aesthetically. For example, my passion for becoming disgustingly educated and skilled seems hereditary as I get it from my mother, who now has about a dozen professional certificates, diplomas, and degrees. My ability to multitask was ever so kindly passed on to me from my father who is currently a full-time nine-to-fiver, law student, head of a thriving company and very present dad. My twin sister, Kaylyn made me become an assertive yet accommodating person, (it would have been impossible not to with all the bickering we did as children). My baby siblings, who are the kindest and funniest people you will ever meet, gave me the gift of care and compassion. Out of the millions of jobs I have had, being an older sister has been by far my favourite. Who would I be without these salient attributes?

Portuguese

Where will you find me on a Tuesday morning at 10am? If not in the engineering maker space reconstructing and studying the structural dynamics of the Canterbury Cathedral on CAD software, probably working. I am the definition of a busy bee. My hobbies, interests, and jobs keep me completely and utterly occupied. “How much could you possibly be doing?”, you may ask. Well, this is going to be a mouth full, but here goes:

• Social Secretary for Women’s Hockey
• Sports Officer for the Afro-Caribbean Society
• Social Media Officer for the Boxing Society
•  Social Secretary for the Boxing Society
•  Community Organiser with the Christ Church Students’​ Union
•  Movember student ambassador for Christ Church

The list goes on, and my paid roles are even more fascinating: I work as a student ambassador, shop assistant at my hockey club and more recently, Student Green Office Projects Officer. Over the last few weeks, juggling all that as well as keeping up with my course, hobbies, and social life has been interesting to navigate, for lack of a better word. I am so grateful for the privilege of being busy. The exhaustion that comes with being able to sing, play hockey, draw, paint, box, travel, learn new languages, try out different sports, have some thrilling reads and watches, whilst furthering my education abroad has been one of the most fulfilling experiences I have ever had. I cannot wait to continue this journey over the next academic year.

Inglés

With this being your first impression of me, I will be completely honest and admit that when the role of Student Green Office Projects Officer was first advertised I only really wanted to apply for it because I thought it would look good on my CV, which it will do not get me wrong, but after actually sitting down and understanding the impact the Academy for Sustainable Futures has on the university, I felt a much greater calling…

I vividly remember back in high school when prefects would trot around the corridors, selectively policing the girls dress code, whilst wilfully ignoring the boys. I felt so much rage, not only towards the prefects’ unjust actions, but the fact that no one said anything. Not the teachers, not the boys, not even the girls themselves. The issue transcended mere hem lengths; it exposed a glaring double standard and subsequent passive compliance.  I understood then that the average person will always look the other way. If I wanted change, I had to make it.

Often, we tend to exclusively pack sustainability into categorised recycling boxes and second-hand shops. Real, impactful sustainability practices cannot exist in a vacuum. Systematic change happens when we stand up for not only the planet but the people that inhabit it as well. As an SGO officer, I want to be able to look back at that 15-year-old girl watching the prefects pick and choose who the rules apply to and not only tell her that her frustration is valid but be able to show her that speaking up and championing change is exactly how we achieve level playing ground.

After spending the last few weeks getting to know the creative, intelligent and multi-talented SGO team, I am even more excited to tackle this new chapter. With the help of my fellow Projects Officers Sophie and Emilia I have already managed to plan, organise, and execute a positive post-card pop-up event, a wellbeing activity in honour of suicide prevention month in September. This success has just given me the courage to go bigger, better and brighter and I am looking forward to see what the 26/27 green year has instore, you should be too!

After I was asked to write this blog, I called a close friend of mine and asked her “When you think “Kate”, what are the first three things that come to mind.”

She replied, “funny, always working, and very compassionate”. I don’t think I could have summed myself up anymore perfectly than that.

By Kaitlyn, SGO Projects Officer