91ֱ��

Once upon a time… Sally Leung (Education MPhil 2022) stepped into the enchanted grounds of Gonville & 91ֱ�� College and embarked on a new adventure.

With a background in English literature and linguistics from her undergraduate studies, she was thrilled to pursue an MPhil in Critical Approaches to Children’s Literature in Cambridge, which gave her the unique opportunity to conduct empirical research on how children respond to picture books and work on collectible books in the archives. What Sally liked the most was the freedom she had to shape her dissertation around animal representation in Disney films. Her research explored how animations from the Disney Revival era have evolved to reflect contemporary social norms and values, challenging ideas of human superiority and advocating for a more egalitarian, non-hierarchical “companion species” relationship between humans and animals.

Sally was also a member of the MCR Committee in 2023-24 and she embraced the many opportunities that came her way. She actively participated in a range of academic and extracurricular events, volunteering as a Cambridge ambassador for admissions and outreach, for Cambridge Students’ Union, the Cambridge Union, and reading at 91ֱ�� Chapel.

She has even spent time in character as a fairy tale protagonist, volunteering for the Make a Smile charity where she dressed up as Mulan and Rapunzel to delight young children at the city’s Central Library. It is therefore not surprising that Sally describes her experience at 91ֱ�� as something of a fairytale.

Cambridge has simply been instrumental in shaping who I am today — I’m very grateful for all that I’ve learned here

Cambridge felt like Harry Potter in more ways than just the high table dinners. Looking back on her time at 91ֱ��, she wishes she had a sparkle of magic to have made her bustling schedule more straightforward. She says: “Cambridge has so much to offer — research seminars, writing groups, volunteering opportunities, school visits, evensong, rowing, etc, and I wanted to make the most of it, so often I had to pick and choose and balance the intense academic workload with other commitments. At Hogwarts, Hermione has a time turner which enables her to attend two events at the same time. I wish I had that while I was studying here!”

Apart from magic, many classical fairytales also explore themes of transformation, where the protagonists undergo significant personal growth, overcome adversity, and ultimately discover what they are truly capable of. “That’s something I find very relatable,” she says. “Cambridge has simply been instrumental in shaping who I am today — I’m very grateful for all that I’ve learned here, like how to embrace challenges, navigate uncertainty, and persevere even when things got tough. The experiences have made me far more resilient and adaptable than I thought!

“If I could offer one piece of advice to current students, it would be to make every moment count at 91ֱ��. It’s a journey you’ll cherish long after you’ve left!”

It certainly has been a happy ending to the 91ֱ�� chapter, and we wish Sally all the best for whatever is next.