Student Spotlight: A Week at Wroxton
Written by Amara Stewart, Class of Spring 2026
Attending a semester at Wroxton College was truly the best decision I’ve ever made. I came for a week this past summer and immediately fell in love. Nowhere else can you get the perfect balance between a rigorous education, a close-knit community, enriching travels, and a refreshing atmosphere. I simply couldn’t wait to come back. Of course, everyone is drawn in by the weekend trips to Paris and Edinburgh (which were admittedly some of the most fun I’ve ever had) or travel break where we can explore Europe on our own, but there is more to a Wroxton education than just the big events. Even day to day life at Wroxton is fun and fulfilling. For example, here is what my past week looked like:
On Monday, I used my free time to work on my essays and walk through the grounds. I hung out with the ducks and relaxed in the grass while reading about Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The grounds are expansive, and immaculately maintained, so they are the perfect place to reconnect with nature. Tuesday was much more involved. After my morning class discussing the impacts of globalization on the pursuit of nuclear energy, I practiced volleyball with my friends. Because of how small the group is this semester, we got close to each other and found friends to depend on quite quickly. Wroxton creates a welcoming atmosphere in which it is easy to foster new friendships which end up lasting a lifetime. Even though we joke and play fight during the Wroxton Cup events, our friendships are stronger than any house divide. During the quizzes, we talk a big game and make faces at each other, but once the games are over, we are able to forgive any transgressions or good-natured jibes we might have experienced. Though we are not on the same team, my friends practice volleyball with me in preparation for the volleyball tournament associated with the Wroxton Cup. It is a great way to decompress from the workload.
The second half of the week is far busier than the first for me. On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of meeting several prominent figures in British politics including Alistair Burt, Lord Graham Tope, the Right and Honorable Nicky Morgan, and Polly Toynbee. These panelists shared their experiences and opinions with us and answered our questions on topics like the “special relationship” between Britain and the United States, low voter rates, and the unique political spectrum in the English Parliament. The insight provided by these experts was absolutely invaluable and helped us all understand problems in Britain much better. After lunch that day, I was able to attend a special session of the Women in Politics class featuring the Right and Honorable Nicky Morgan. Here, I was able to ask more specific questions about women in leadership roles. Meanwhile, Lord Graham Tope gave a guest lecture to the Government and Politics class. Because the faculty at Wroxton is so well connected to prominent figures in politics, the students at Wroxton get so many unique opportunities to meet experts with years of experience.
Thursday was busier for me and had remarkably fewer members of Parliament. I had two classes and two tutorials, which are smaller classes with student presentations rather than lectures. During the tutorials, I was able to dig deeper into the texts and understand the content more thouroughly–which was desperately needed for the Shakespeare class. Then, I had two more literature lectures where we discussed the plays we had read the previous week and prepared for the next plays. Finally, after a long day, I went to the Buttery for a Wroxton Cup Quiz. There, my team and I answered questions about Wroxton, matched staff to baby photos, and solved anagrams.
On Fridays, we have trips rather than classes. This Friday, I went to London with my Shakespeare class. We explored the city, ate some delicious Korean barbeque, and went to the Victoria and Albert Museum before meeting up with our professor at Shakespeare’s Globe. At the Globe, we had the pleasure of watching Shakespeare’s The Tempest in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. The production quickly became one of our favorites from this semester as it played with metatheater, encouraged audience interaction, and kept us all engaged. After the performance, we debriefed on the bus ride back to the college.
Saturday and Sunday were much less eventful. While some of my peers travelled to Birmingham, the second largest city in the UK, I stayed back at the college to get work done. In the library for hours, I reflected on my time in England in my essays for Dr. Baldwin’s class and researched various economic models for my class with Dr. Garrity. The papers are demanding, but in completing them we gain a more thorough understanding of Britain and its place in the world.
Though it can sometimes be stressful, Wroxton is always fulfilling. The work is assigned to make you think, the essays to make you question. The trips are fun but also teach us about the history and values of Britain. I wouldn’t have my time here any other way. The rigorous academics, relaxing environment, and one-of-a-kind opportunities Wroxton offers have made this semester the best of my college career! I even plan to come back after I graduate, if not to take classes, then to visit the professors here who have become so important in my life. The gorgeous grounds and beautiful halls will always hold a special place in my heart as my second home.