Meet fresher Ahmed Latif who is the David Wilkinson First Generation Scholar of 2024-25. From rowing, formals and late-night board games to taking on the role of Welfare Officer for DU Boxing, Ahmed’s time at St John’s College has been nothing short of transformative. Coming from a state school, he wasn’t sure what to expect from Durham — but John’s quickly became a place he could call home. In this interview, he reflects on the friendships, challenges, and unexpected passions he’s discovered along the way, and why St John’s truly lives up to its reputation as the kindest college.
How did you end up in St John’s?
I chose St John’s after hearing it called the kindest college on an open day – it stuck with me. Its central location makes getting around Durham easy, with quick access to key spots like the town centre, and I love the forest walk to the science site for my Computer Science course. Coming from a state school, I was initially wary of Durham’s reputation, but John’s has proven to be a genuinely friendly and welcoming place and it really feels like home.
Tell us about your journey at John’s so far.
John’s is amazing in the fact that it attracts so much talent, where everyone has their own unique qualities and quirks, yet we are all united under one college. For me, the best part of John’s isn’t the amazing catering, beautiful setting or even the free coffee. It’s the group of friends I’ve made here, and the fond memories I have with them.
Late nights in the Bailey Room were perfect for downtime and bonding through board games, tense rounds of pool, on-the-couch discussions – it’s where I’ve started getting into music too, and playing piano this term using the Bailey Room piano with the help of my friends has been a major highlight.
I think sharing a room has been a challenge – whilst I get along with my roommate, it’s hard to find private time and stick to a sleeping routine. Studying in my room was also tricky at first, but the LRC (John’s Library) has been a great place to put my head down and get work done, and it’s even better with John’s free coffee!
Another major challenge was how lonely college gets when term ends. A lot of the life of John’s comes from the people who reside within it, so whilst I was living in college, there wasn’t much to do really. A real help though definitely has to be the kitchen spaces all over college, since they contain all the main cooking utilities you would need to prepare food, and it’s a great way to spark conversation with whoever else might be left in college.
Overall, I think my time at John’s has been enriching, and I’ve learnt a ton of things – whether that be new skills or life lessons – and I couldn’t thank the college and community more.
What activities are you involved in in College and the University?
As of now, I’m currently involved with the college boat club, SJCBC, which has been a real pleasure. From tireless days out carrying boats to be trailered, to countless outings on the water preparing for big races, being part of John’s rowing has been a superb bonding experience with people living in and out of college. Last term, I got the opportunity to race in York, where we came third in our division! This was huge because our boat had only one outing, so we didn’t have much time to prepare, but alas we still did relatively well. Rowing is great because it gives you an excuse to get out of Durham for a bit and explore all the different beautiful cities of the UK, and I’d say my favourite rowing experience this year was the dinner after the massive Head of the River Race down 6.8 km of the Thames. Old and new club members all gathered and cheered on together until our boat had crossed the finish line, whereafter we all celebrated with a warm, hearty meal with the majority of the club present, including previous alumni – it was a great way to wrap up the huge success on the Thames!
University-wise, I’m very involved with Durham University’s Amateur Boxing Club, where I’ll be on the executive committee as Welfare Officer next year! Boxing has been a real passion of mine growing up – the sessions I go to every week let me practice what I love whilst keeping fit. The team park runs and the training sessions have pushed me beyond what I’d be able to do on my own and have formed unbreakable bonds – even getting to know the captain, who is also in John’s! The Movember charity spar was especially a joy to be a part of, as members of the club all wore moustaches whilst sparing to raise money and awareness for the cause.
I also really enjoyed the formals held every week in college. Formals are another great way to meet new people and talk over a 3-course meal, with the themed formals inviting guests to talk about their field of expertise, allowing for an insightful evening over amazing food.
What do you wish you’d known before coming here?
Weather: I’d say one thing to expect when coming to Durham is the chilly weather, especially as you move in during the winter when the weather will get harsh. I’d recommend a good pair of thermals or warm layers to get you through those icy cold days!
Laundry: Whilst doing laundry, try to get to your laundry on time as people won’t hesitate to take your stuff out and put it on the washing machines/dryers.
Housing: There are enough houses and you will find a home. Don’t rush into the house signing process. Houses come out periodically, so it isn’t just a set market, and the university puts an effort in with landlords to ensure everyone gets a place to stay. My biggest piece of advice would be to wait at least a month to get to know the people you may potentially sign with, and if you decide to sign early be confident in the people you live with. There isn’t a rush, I personally signed in December, which was later than what most people would have done.
What are your plans for next year? After graduation? Beyond Durham?
Next year, I’ll be looking into potential career paths that interest me. Although most students who choose Computer Science go into software engineering, the degree is fairly broad so I want to take some time to figure out what role fits me best. In addition, I’ll be looking into being qualified as a Level 1 boxing coach, to help assist with the beginner sessions for DU Boxing and run some of the general sessions on my own. I also want to stay connected with John’s, so I want to make an effort to join the football team, as it’s something I love but never got to do this year, and a lot of my close friends are involved with the team.
Although I haven’t given it much thought yet, I’m stuck between whether I’d want to go into a postgraduate PhD for further study or to work full-time. I think that would depend on how I find the internships I get through second year. I might also want to get into more volunteering schemes across schools, to give my testimony about how university changed my life once I’m in a position of work. Far down the line, I would really want to open my own boxing gym, as I love the sport, and I’d want to continue to pursue it even once I reach old age.
Finally, how do you describe John’s to others?
I believe that John’s is exactly what it describes itself to be – a place that thrives on kindness. Everyone brings their own unique talents and perspectives, culminating in a vibrant community where everyone supports each other and contributes to college life in their own way.
It’s a place where you can grow and truly flourish into a version of yourself that you may not have imagined before. I can personally testify to this – here are just a few things I’ve learned and achieved exclusively because of my time at John’s:
- I’ve learned to interpret music, play piano and guitar
- I’ve learned how to row and became part of a team
- Found a group of friends who’ve supported my personal growth
- Achieved great results in my summative assessments, thanks to both hard work and amazing facilities like the LRC
- Made huge improvements to my fitness using the college gym
- Took part in Culture Day, sharing my background and learning about others’ – embracing the diversity that makes John’s so special
John’s attracts people who genuinely want to help – whether that’s in small acts like holding a door open or smiling on the street, or in bigger ways like organizing major events such as Bailey Ball. Each of us helps shape the college in our own way, and that’s what makes it such a meaningful and inspiring place to be and grow.
Image credit: Ahmed Latif, Rebecca Bouveng
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