Sancta Sophia News Blog

What is your full name?

Alexandra Murray

When did you reside at Sancta?

From March 2004 to November 2007

Where are you from originally?

Dunoon (near Lismore), Northern NSW

Where are do you live these days (city, state/region, country)?

Oxford, UK

Tell us about where you live. How did you come to live there & how long have you been there?

It has always been a dream of mine to do some type of post-graduate study in the UK. I didn’t, however, really think that it would ever be possible! I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission to fund my studies in Oxford for three years. I have been here just under 2 years so far.  Unlike Sydney University, every student of Oxford must be a member of a college. My college is St. Edmund Hall (known in Oxford as Teddy Hall) and I am currently living in a lovely college owned house and my window overlooks the University Park.

I am a D.Phil student in Experimental Psychology, more specifically, I am studying cognitive neuroscience: the cross between psychology and neuroscience. I recently passed an oral exam which marked the half way point which suggests that one day I might actually graduate! I have to say I have met some amazing people here and my studies have presented me with some great opportunities. I had had a chance to travel to conferences and on holiday in within the UK, Europe and the in US. One thing that is great about being in England is that it is very accessible to other parts of the world! So saying that, I miss Australia and intend to return for good one day…

How did you come to live at Sancta?

Because I was moving far from home to go to University in Sydney, I thought it would be a great experience to live in a residential college. I originally applied to both Sancta and Johns but Mrs. Barbara Walsh (Sancta’s Principal at the time) convinced me to accept Sancta’s offer of a place during my phone interview. Looking back I am eternally grateful that she did! My four years at Sancta is a time I will forever treasure. I went from being an only child living on a farm to sharing a room in the centre of the city! It was a massive transmission but Sancta was such a friendly and supportive environment that I didn’t regret it for a minute!

What are your most vivid and most fond memories of your time at Sancta?

Definitely spending time with some of best friends I will ever have. Whether this was in each others’ rooms, during everyday meal times, formal dinner or the end of year formals, we had a great times together, Looking back, I remember it being an idyllic time of my life. I remember O’Week very well – from the moment I met my roommate and my friends from all over Australia and the world, I knew my time at Sancta was going to be an amazing one! I also remember some stories about girls in my year playing some tricks on the Paulines and Johnsmen but this is probably not the forum for me to go into detail…

What advice and pearls of wisdom do you have for new & current Sancta students?

During my time in Sancta, I had the opportunity to make friends and contacts with people from a large range of disciplines. If I had not gone to college, my friend circle would have been limited by my subject area. Not only were the friends that I made at Sancta so important for my enjoyment of my time at University but after leaving I have been able to visit them and have them visit me, all over the world!  It has been amazing how often I have asked friends for advice, provided contact for other friends from different industries. Really, try to keep in touch, the Sancta network is a wide and useful one! Also, make use of the advice from staff and the Senior Common Room – when I was at Sancta, they were an underutilised resource!

What else would you like to tell us about your life at Sancta and your life now?

I would also tell current students to realise the fantastic opportunity that is given to them by being a student at Sancta. If someone in your position can’t do something then who can?

Please tell us about the photos you have included:

1. A a photo of four Sancta Alumna – Philippa Crowter, Alexandra Murray, Isheeta Sumra and Jennifer Walpole and Jennifer’s wedding in Poland, July 2009. We had flown from literally all over the world to celebrate Jen’s wedding together!

2.  Ryan Cooke, Dr Marie Leech (Principal) and Alexandra Murray at the Sancta Alumni London Reunion 7 July 2009 (top).

3. The main quadrangle in St. Edmund Hall (Teddy Hall), my new college in Oxford.

4. Halloween – New College – A photo of a formal dinner (Halloween theme) at New College – the college next door to Teddy Hall with some friends.