LT: As someone who really embraced the Trevs community and showed so much care towards all of us students, how did you approach coming to Trevs?

AJ: My first memory was Janice ringing me up and offering me the job, and asking if I would do move-in day during my first week. I was like, ‘Yep, no problem,’ so I did it. It was manic, but I loved every minute of it because it was a snapshot of what was coming. I was seeing students through the door, and at that point, trying to remember their names. I remember looking and thinking, ‘Why have these guys [Freps] got t-shirts?’ And that’s when I found you [LT]. I saw you were all wearing pronoun badges, so that’s why I asked you for one. I was like, ‘You’re all wearing them, I’ll wear one,’ that’s important. I think that’s the key for me; it doesn’t matter if it’s pertaining to you or if you know exactly 100% what it means to everybody else, but it was important because you were all wearing them. So, I was like, ‘Get me one!’ […] I used to say this to the younger children I worked with, you don’t have to understand something, but you have to accept and appreciate it because it means something to other people.

LT: You are ubiquitously loved by the Trevs community for being so helpful and considerate, what’s your attitude towards how you interact with others and where did this come from?

AJ: I’ve just been brought up to be that person. It’s about being kind, and it’s about smiling, and it’s about accepting everything. Not everyone can always make time to talk to me, but they’re always going to get ‘Hello, how are you doing?’ Those who are around college more will get that little bit more, ‘How did your exam go?’, ‘Have you eaten?’, ‘How was meeting your friend the other day?’ It’s not about being their[the students] friend, it’s about being their community […]. You don’t know what’s going on in people’s lives, and on the flip side, if I’ve had a bad day, that’s not your fault. Working with children previously probably did help because I lost my mum when I worked at the school, and they all knew about it. It was about accepting it was going to be sad when I came back to work, and they could ask me questions, but one day I might go, ‘Yeah, my dad used to do this, and my mum used to do this’, or it might be tears. It’s about being human. We’re not infallible. It is a cliché, but be nice, be kind, accepting, thoughtful, be responsible, because you don’t know when life will end. I’d rather be someone who’s known for being kind and lovely and appreciative and put a smile on my face even though I might be hurting some days because it’s not anyone else’s fault.

You get back what you give out, and I say that when I do some of the tours, I say, ‘you’re going to get out of here what you want from it. There’s a lot to offer, you’re going to get out as much as you give.’ I realised this is their [the students’] home and this is their family, that’s where I’m coming from when I interact with them. Students will introduce me to their parents, and the parents will say, ‘We’ve heard all about you, thank you so much for looking after him.’ I haven’t really looked after anyone; I’d just say I’ve done my job.

LT: What’s your favourite memory from your time in Trevs?

AJ: My first Freshers’ because I really did hit the ground running. I was like a cat in headlights, and I loved every minute of it. I was like, even though I’m new, I’m going to get stuck in with everything; this is my job. There’s far too many to think about but also TCMS’s Jesus Christ Superstar, that was phenomenal. I’d seen it a fewtimes and I was actually in it at school. I’d also go with performing at Trevstock. I hadn’t sung in public for years, I’d do it for fun but hadn’t actually done it that properly. I was sitting in the chair looking at Georgina saying ‘I might not do this’ and then when my time came I was like okay I’m doing this, and I loved it. It’s that full acceptance of being like ‘yeah, go on, do it.’

LT: What does Trevs mean to you, and what will you carry with you from Trevs?

AJ: I’m going to go with the same word I gave when we did the video for Instagram, describing Trevs in one word: family. It genuinely is, from a community sense of the word and a caring sense of the word, and I’m just really privileged to have been a part of it. I’m really honoured that this was my start here at the Uni. It’s been a good start for me and I learned a lot personally and in my job. But it’s definitely a family and a community, and one I love and adore. It’s got a feeling. I walked in for my interview, and I remember going, “This feels lovely which was weird because I only walked into reception and just sat on a sofa. I was straight away thinking this feels nice, and it went on from there.

LT: Do you have a parting message for the Trevs students before you leave us for your new role with the Archaeology and Anthropology department?

AJ: Life’s tough enough, so don’t beat yourself up if things go wrong, because they will always find a way of working out. Take every opportunity that comes your way, but be kind and thoughtful while doing it. And just know, you’ll always be part of Trevelyan, even when you live out, even when you graduate, because even I get that as a member of staff. I just want you to all remember how cared for you were; that never leaves you when somewhere has been so kind and so good to you.