7 questions with Rijul Shah

This week we put seven questions to Rijul Shah, a UCL Medical School/UCL Global Health student and President of the UCLU Hindu Society.

Why are you interested in this subject and what do you plan to do in the future?

This almost sounds like my Medical School interviews! I could just as easily roll off the prescribed answers that every medical student has for this question - we have been asked it so many times.

If I'm honest, it's something I am hugely passionate about, yet exactly what my future may hold I'm not sure. I've got a long time yet at UCL and many years of training to come and so there's still time to decide what path of medicine I will end up taking, but I don't see myself doing anything else.

What is the most interesting thing you've done, seen or got involved with while at UCL?

I think some of the most amazing things you can do at any university but especially at UCL involve the huge number of clubs and societies on campus. They're so enriching to the university experience and so many people absolutely love getting involved in all the extra-curricular stuff on offer.

Personally, having been President of the UCLU Hindu Society for the past year and heavily involved ever since coming to university, it has been a huge part of shaping my time at UCL so far. I've realised that we are surrounded by countless talented, inspiring and driven students that can achieve some truly incredible things when given the opportunity.

For me, like so many other students involved with the society and especially Rangeela, the chance to perform on the same West End stage where Mamma Mia plays and showcasing talents that you probably never knew you had is right up there.

That, and surviving first year unscathed.

Have you discovered any 'hidden gems' during your time at UCL?

As a medic, you barely leave the Cruciform for your first two years so it's pretty insular and you barely waiver from routine.

This year I've discovered the UCL Institute of Education's bar - they've got pool tables and serve pizza, which is a world away from sitting in Mully's in first year with its permanent post-sportsnite whiff.

Oh, and the caramel shortcake they sell at the tuck shop in the Wolfson Institute. Two of these everyday was the only way I managed to survive three-hour lectures this year. God knows they're terrible for you but who cares when they taste so good.

Give us your top three things to do/see/go to in London.

Having been born and lived in Tottenham my whole life, I'm still waiting to see plenty of my own city. We live in one of the largest, most cosmopolitan, diverse and connected cities in the world, so to not fully experience it is an injustice. So top on my list would be to explore it as much as possible, whenever you have a bit of time. There is so much on offer for everyone and you're only here for a short time of your life so make it worth it.

I have such a long list of things yet to do around London but two things that stand out for me are the views from the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park on a clear summer day and walking down the Thames at night. There's something almost magical about them, or at least that's how I remember them.

If you were Provost for the day what one thing would you do?

As well as what UCL does academically and how hard each of the clubs and societies works within their constrains, there's a massive lack of facilities for students to prosper from outside of their studies. Arts societies have virtually no rehearsal space across campus and the Bloomsbury Theatre is out of action for even longer now. Sports clubs have to travel all across London and beyond to 'home' grounds that do not match up to the facilities that other universities in London or around the country enjoy.

There's nothing you could do in a day to fix this but I'd aim to get the ball rolling on a long-term plan to keep providing facilities for students. I believe that we make the most of our university experiences through plenty of what we do outside of our degrees and if the current pressures on these persist, the clubs and societies will sadly deteriorate.

Who inspires you and why?

I'll have to say my friends with great vision that I have met at UCL. I mean this in terms of they happen to see things from a different perspective to me and have helped open my eyes and continue to help me develop my own skills and as a person.

Whether that may be their creative vision in choreography, their ability to not make pharmacology and learning drug actions a complete chore or just their attitude towards living life, I have met many different people over the past three years that have helped shape me into the person I am today. They're continually opening new avenues of thought in my life.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

Erm... I wear size 13 shoes?