Mary is a postgraduate student who was a Sabbatical Officer for two years at the Students' Union
Meet Mary, prominent member of artsUCL. Once Activities Officer and Students' Union president, now master’s student in Art Education, leading many artsUCL societies to success - she has worn many hats within the Students’ Union. Get to know her and her story, as she tells us about her journey at UCL.
I’m Mary McHarg, I studied Arts and Sciences as my undergraduate, I was a Sabbatical Officer for two years, and now I am studying Art Education as my postgraduate. I’m old! I can never leave!
When I first started UCL I was entirely alone; I didn’t know London very well, I didn’t know anyone on my course and no one from my sixth form came here. It was very scary and big, but I got the hang of it after getting stuck in and finding new friends – I did this by joining sports clubs and societies. Student life outside of your studies is so important, it’s impacted every aspect of my life. It proves that there’s so much more to us as students outside the lecture theatre; it’s how we meet friends, what hobbies we enjoy, what sports or societies we want to partake in, what career we want to do.
My role as an officer was highly intensive leadership. I passed policies, developed strategies and helped write the Student Life Strategy. It was hard, but I wouldn’t have as strong an idea and conviction about what I want to do now in my life now. It’s enabled me to develop my interest in public arts education.
I now ask myself, what is the role of a contemporary artist in facilitating education? What role does policy play in, how does it affect the way we study? How can theatres help push arts education to public? Now, I can work towards creating policies to make performance spaces for accessible and putting on cool activity programmes for artsy people. I also have a better understanding of processes, and awareness of institutional knowledge. I can anticipate timelines and deadlines, which is helpful for expectations.
Performing on stage at UCL has been my favourite thing to do whilst at university. There’s no other feeling like performing in front of theatre full of 500 people – it’s like being on the West End, but entirely run by students! This year, I played Lord Farquad in Shrek, and I absolutely loved it (even though I was performing on my knees the whole while!). Not only have I made friends and explored my hobbies, but I’ve learned so much about myself and what I find rewarding. artsUCL is a wonderful community full of crazy talent people that I’m privileged to surround myself with.
I would tell my younger self to get out of bed and do the cool things that you want to do! Make sure you give yourself time to rest and try all the cool things outside of your lectures. Put less pressure in yourself (especially in first year) and just try and enjoy it.