Hannah Blakey
Tell us about your background
I am from Detroit, Michigan in the United States but came to Oxford out of my undergraduate studies in New York. Prior to the Refugee and Forced Migration course, I studied Persian and French.
“It was the willingness of my classmates to speak freely and honestly about their thoughts and disagreements on various subjects that truly taught me a lot and opened my perspectives.”
“It was the willingness of my classmates to speak freely and honestly about their thoughts and disagreements on various subjects that truly taught me a lot and opened my perspectives.”
What made you choose to study at ODID?
The Refugee Studies course was one of the most comprehensive I could find when searching for graduate programs in the field. The final portion of my undergraduate studies in Persian occurred at the same time as the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and it solidified my desire to learn and do more for refugee communities. ODID seemed the best place for that.
What do you particularly like about ODID?
Many of the courses within ODID are well connected and try to include one another in social events and academic opportunities. The department building was a place where we had classes but also where people could relax, hang out, and make new friends across disciplines.
What do you particularly like about your course?
My favorite thing about the Refugee & Forced Migration Studies course was the diversity of thought and life experience among my classmates. While course readings were informative, it was the willingness of my classmates to speak freely and honestly about their thoughts and disagreements on various subjects that truly taught me a lot and opened my perspectives. However despite in-class disagreements and at times, heated discussions, everyone understood that class debate was just that. The social environment outside of structured classes built friendships I will undoubtedly keep for a long time.
What other activities have you been involved with at Oxford
I am part of Chosen Bible Study; a small student-led group that meets a few times a week and has become a source of encouragement and friendship for me. I also spent time tutoring for Jacari once a week, which pairs students with a recently arrived refugee or migrant child who could benefit from extra assistance learning English.
Is life at Oxford different from how you expected it to be?
Life at Oxford is different in the best way. I had expected a certain level of stuffiness with people jockeying to prove how smart or qualified they were. Instead, I entered an incredibly warm community of people who enjoy supporting one another and helping those around them succeed.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of applying?
Take some time to look through the course website and look up some of the leading faculty in the course. The program is so worthwhile if it is what you are looking for and you are ready to give it your all but it is a lot of work. Be passionate about what you are heading into and give it everything, you will not regret it.