As we come towards the end of the first week for students at Queen’s, everyone is excited for the prospect of a couple of days out of their academic programmes. There will be plenty of activities to enjoy, however, students will also have their own free time to explore more of the city. 

Intellectually, it has been a challenging week for our cohort so far. It’s not easy to stay in a different country especially whilst studying, and we would like to say a special well done to everyone for showing such resilience, determination and kindness. 

Lessons started well on Thursday and with students now fully settled into classes, it was great to see friendships flourishing. Those on the Global Leadership programme were using their new bonds to discuss their views on what was the most pressing issue faced by leaders today. General consensus suggested it would be climate change however, gun control was another hot topic. Elsewhere, students in the Acting and Performance workshop were exploring topical issues through the medium of art. 

After a busy morning, students enjoyed a university fair in the afternoon. This was a good way for them to get some insights into the process of applying to universities in the UK. It was great to get some advice from university representatives, as several of our students are considering pursuing their academic futures here. 

In the evening, there was the option between a movie night and heading out to the ice rink. The sporty group spun around the rink, whilst those who preferred a more relaxed evening got cosy with some popcorn.