Rhyne Chambers

The song that reminds you of Surrey

Wait A Minute by Willow because it’s the first ever song my flatmate and I bonded over during our time in Manor Park in first year.

What couldn’t you live without at university?

I can’t live without an iron and ironing board. I have to always make sure my clothes are fresh and neat for the day. They call me Ironman in my house!

Go-to dish at University

Tuna pasta, for those days where I’ve had a long day and cannot be bothered to cook or just want something quick and easy. The tuna has to be canned with sunflower oil and fried with onions and my favourite spices!

Sum up Surrey in three words

Challenging. Eye-opening and Enjoyable.

CHOOSING US  

I always wanted to move far away from my home in the Midlands and at the time, Surrey was high on the league tables for my particular subject. My mum and I really liked the campus when we came down so that sold it for me. The university definitely seemed like there was a sense of community running through the campus. I was really nervous so I was just focused on making sure I was not going into the wrong classroom.

YOUR COURSE

Ever since I was in year seven at school, I’ve had a passion for languages, finding out about cultures different to my own, learning new vocabulary and putting it into practice.

I like the fact the Surrey allows you to have a 50/50 split between your two languages choices (French and Spanish), as that was something other universities didn’t offer. I also like that students are given a choice of subject for written assignments, which makes the essays more personal.

YOUR SURREY EXPERIENCE

The best thing about life at Surrey is the campus; everything is in one place. The proximity to London is also a bonus – the city can be reached in only 35 minutes by train.

I was a part of the Surrey Afro-Caribbean Society during my first year, which allowed me to celebrate my Caribbean heritage, feel represented and become involved in events such as the LGBT+ Black History Month panel in 2019. I also was Social Media Executive for the Surrey Languages Society, which helped me gain experience in operating social media platforms as well as making content.

I think the best moment at Surrey will be my graduation in July!

STUDYING ABROAD EXPERIENCE 

I chose to study abroad as I didn’t feel ready to enter the world of work just yet and wanted to continue to enjoy being a student. For my French placement, I made the decision to study at the Université Gustave Eiffel in Champs-sur-Marne, a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris. For my Spanish placement, I studied at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid.

Meeting new friends, experiencing life in another country and gaining independence were the three main highlights of my experience abroad. I would 1000% recommend a study abroad placement if you ever get the chance to do so!