Thank you and farewell
Dear Clare,
With the exciting beginning of a new Clare committee comes a sad farewell from those of us leaving. In some ways, it feels like only yesterday when I was standing in the MCR frantically cutting up celery sticks in anticipation for the arrival of 150 new students for Freshers’ Week, yet in other ways it feels like a different lifetime without the friendships and bonds that have been developed since then. It’s been an action-packed and enjoyable year and I’m very grateful to have been so involved in it.
So first, a thank you to my wonderful committee for a very successful year. We’re given a lot of autonomy to run our own operations here at Clare, but it means that we rely so much of the work of these volunteers to make things happen. We’ve been fortunate enough to put on many superb events throughout the year, including Christmas Dinners, Burns Night, Halloween, regular Yoga and Clareity evenings, Harry Potter Dinners, an entire day of Clareity, various sporting evenings, Bridgemas, Whisky Tasting, swaps, Trips to Westminster and Oxford, and nine straight days of bonanza for Freshers’ Week. None of these would have happened without incredible work behind the scenes by everyone who has contributed this year. You’ve all been amazing and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
Second, despite some of the global political turbulence this year, I’m happy to step down knowing that the MCR is in safe hands. I know Cloe and the rest of the new committee are equally as committed to creating a quality life here for all members, and I look forward to seeing what they come up with. We do still have a few major events to come this year – Supervisors’ Dinner this Friday, and Presidents’ Dinner, our major end of year celebration, on 24 June. I know the new team will make sure these evenings are memorable and I wish them very well for the rest of their year together.
And finally, thank all of you members of Clare for making the work worthwhile. I’ve been continuously grateful at the kind responses and support in my own times of doubt. By far my favourite part of this role has been getting to know so many of you and being able to spend quality time in College. I’ve also seen how quickly you have all meshed into a kind, caring and driven community and how academically motivated each of you are. Coming here meant travelling 10,000 km further from home than I’d ever been before, and yet I’ve never felt so included in a community. For those heading in thesis/exam mode, I wish you the very best success and I know you will continue to achieve great things beyond Cambridge. To those continuing on with their research, I look forward to spending more time together here. I’m sure I speak on behalf of many others when I say thank you for inspiring me, thank you for welcoming me, and thank you for making my time here so rewarding.
Arohanui,
Olly McMillan
Clare College MCR President 2016/17
