My name is Shaharzad Akbar, I'm doing an MPhil in Development Studies. I'm 22 years old, I'm from Afganistan.
I studied one year of my undergraduate in Kabul university and then went on to study in the States for 3 years and then came to Oxford Univeristy, into Wolfson.
I really enjoy coming here because after hours of studing or just being inside my room or in the library, it's really useful to go out and be somewhere green... and calm... and peaceful and quite. The college is very quite and people are very respectful of the fact that everyone is studying and sometimes people want to take a break. So I just come here, sit down and feel the Spring, and be here in nature for a while. It's really refreshing, then I can go back to study again.
The library here in Wolfson is rich in Development Studies which is what I study. It's very beautiful, really peaceful and also a really encouraging environment. When you go in everyone is studying so it really helps you to calm down and focus. Something you can't do in your room!
It's also close to my room because I live in college, so it's very convenient for me to study in Wolfson library.
Back home in Afganistan I used to go to Kabul University and also work full time and I had a very different lifestyle.
Here of course my focus is on academics and studying, and I'm away from my family which is dificult and strange but also important for me at this stage in my life.
I'm intending to go back once I finish my studies in Oxford but I think it will be a big adjustment going back from Oxford University in England to where I will work in Kabul. My county is still in conflict and there are lots of issues to deal with on a daily basis that I don't have to deal with here in Oxford but I think I will be prepared for that with the skills I will get here.