What My Final Year of Oxford University Was Like

[@jimw.4161]

A good mentor (like a good teacher) is worth his/her weight in gold. The power and the ability to influence someone in a positive way is priceless. The result of your good fortune speaks for itself. 👍

[@JenChan]

That's so interesting to hear, Ben. I remember having had a tough time adjusting to it all in Michaelmas of First Year, but afterwards passion for the subject carried me through the course. Thanks for sharing.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thanks, Jen! :) I found Michaelmas First Year difficult too. Half-way through Hilary First Year, I got into the swing of things. And most of Second Year was fun, but I wasn't what Oxford would call "academic". In my Final Year, that's when I really became a scholar and threw myself into it.

[@gloriastroedecke2717]

Thank you for sharing this. I studied at Nottingham Trent for my Semester Abroad a long time ago. I was a bit self conscious in one of my classes as the Tutor liked the stinging insult of," You have a tenacious grasp of the obvious" to my classmates. Once I engaged in a brief discussion and I felt such humiliation when he said,"Ah, this is an example of American Reductionism". I was mystified and horrified. I didn't feel understood or perhaps I didn't make my argument correctly. I wanted to defend myself but remained silent. I wanted to kick myself. However, now I find it somewhat amusing. Not always. I view it two different ways depending on my mood. When I am feeling down,I feel embarrassed. I feel I should have defended my position more passionately. However,I think now my silence wasn't as bad as I first felt. I started to wonder how many helpful discussions he might have inhibited with his barbs. I don't think I really would have changed his mind that day. In fact I am sure he would have had a brilliant comeback to make me feel more deflated than I already did. It was an odd experience to symbolically embody all that is American that day.😆

[@johnbarry748]

Thank man, I really needed to hear this

[@petermuer715]

+BLESSINGS IN CHRIST!!! Keep up all the good work Ben! You are really bringing the love, joy, and wisdom of literature to life!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much, Peter. You've made my day, my friend. God bless you 🙏

[@Azka-Rehman2005]

Could you please make a video where you go through your personal statement?

[@FreyaEmmanuel]

Great!! Would love if you give some insight on the whole admission procedure in a video!

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Great idea! :)

[@doloresharden1947]

0:22

[@sararahmani-ey6sd]

Hello again, it's hard to imagine that the students at Oxford are in such a terrible state! 🙃 I personally miss my time in Heidelberg.

[@tyronebiggums8660]

Jesus, Oxford sounds somewhat hellish. Are you glad you went there?

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Overall, yes. But I definitely don't have only rosy memories of the place!

[@tyronebiggums8660]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy Thanks for being such a great channel with such great engagement. It’s been sweet to watch you channel blow up in the past four months. Much deserved. Btw, I would love to see a video giving tips on how to read Paradise Lost

[@touchofsound]

It sounds like "nel mezzo di cammin" in "una selva oscura" you found your Virgil. ✨️

[@Anna-mc3ll]

Very interesting experience. But how and why did you actually decide to study English literature at Oxford University? Had you ever considered to study somewhere else before? And was there any other subject you wanted to study? Maybe philosophy?

[@petermuer715]

Benjamin - you should set up your own Christian Classical Literary Foundation and add a direct donation and paypal donation link. You can count on me, my girlfriend, my friends, and my colleagues for support. You are an excellent scholar, lecturer, and literary explorer.

[@Shanghai_Knife_Dude]

If you didn't fail the exams totally, how could they put you off for one year? Making places for international students who pays 10 times more tuition?