Student story: when you follow what you enjoy, opportunities often follow naturally.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Grace, and I studied Medicine at University College (Univ) from 2019 to 2025.

I completed both my pre-clinical and clinical years at Univ, including a BA in Medical Sciences in 2022, for which I focused on neuroscience. My dissertation explored how the brain adapts following limb amputation, reflecting my broader interest in how the brain responds to injury and adapts in the face of illness.

What was your time at Oxford like?

My time at Oxford was hugely formative, with many unforgettable experiences alongside a fair few challenges! I felt so privileged to be taught by some amazing academics who really pushed me to think critically and engage deeply with complex ideas.  

At the same time, much of what shaped my time happened outside of academia. Oxford is an incredible city, full of incredible people. I was lucky to be part of a range of communities - academic, sporting, and charitable - which gave me a much more rounded perspective on myself and my future career.

Like many students, I experienced moments of self-doubt, but over time I came to see this as part of the process. Oxford taught me not just how to learn, but how to reflect and really ask ‘why?’.

What were you involved in outside of your studies?

Sport was a huge part of my time at Oxford. I played hockey for the University Blues team and was President of Oxford University Hockey Club during my fourth year. I also competed in University Athletics in my final two years.

Alongside this, I was involved in several student-led initiatives and societies. In particular, I was Co-Founder and Co-President of TeamUp Oxford, a society that delivers teaching sessions on concussion for medical students, sports teams, coaches, and others interested in brain injury awareness.

How did you get involved, and what did this bring to your experience of Oxford?

Through my involvement in hockey as both a player and committee member, I gained insight into the balance between performance and player welfare. Witnessing the effects of concussion among friends - and exploring this further in a fifth-year teaching session - combined with my interest in neuroscience to spark a focus on concussion recognition and management. This led to my involvement in founding TeamUp Oxford in collaboration with the Concussion Legacy Foundation.

This was a particularly meaningful experience during my final year, as it allowed me to connect my academic interests with real-world questions about injury, recovery, and long-term impact. This led to opportunities for projects such as my essay published by the British Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine exploring the psychological and social dimensions of recovery from traumatic brain injuries, and research presented internationally on head injuries in the elderly in the John Radcliffe Emergency department.

More broadly, this and other volunteering roles have allowed me to understand and connect to communities beyond just medicine and sport.

What have you been doing since you graduated?

Since graduating, I have been working as a first year doctor in the NHS in East Sussex.  

This can be a stressful and all-encompassing job but alongside clinical work I have continued to build on my interest in brain injury, mental health in sport, and rehabilitation, particularly as I navigate my own recovery from knee surgery. I have also remained involved with TeamUp Oxford, supporting the expansion and delivery of workshops remotely. The current TeamUp team in Oxford have been incredibly dedicated to raising awareness, delivering sessions across a wide range of university groups this year.

What opportunities are there for other students to get involved? What advice would you give current students?

There are a huge number of opportunities at Oxford, but I found that when you follow what you enjoy, opportunities often follow naturally.

I would encourage students not to feel limited by their degree, and to explore things that broaden their perspective on their subject or their wider interests. It’s also important not to worry if your interests feel niche - there is almost always an outlet for them. Definitely be open to new experiences and say yes to unfamiliar things if they interest you!  

Any students or societies interested in getting involved with TeamUp, either as participants or contributors, can contact the University TeamUp Lead, Dr Attwood, at [email protected].