Apple Sershi is a student at Downing College, studying Art History. In addition to her studies, she is also a model and a content creator, which is how I discovered her. I’m sure many of us felt that the scenic surroundings, jargon, and traditions of Cambridge became familiar to us as we consumed the creativity of student YouTube channels. Not only is her content beautifully curated and artistically expressed, but her videos also foster a genuine sense of candour that is incredibly refreshing. There is true authenticity in how Apple expresses herself creatively. I wanted to know more about her time here as a student but also, what it’s like to enter education later in life, her artistic adventures, and how we all can grow our confidence individually amid the turbulence of Cambridge.

When I ask what it is like for her to be a Cambridge student, Apple says “It’s so fun being part of something that’s so rich in history; you really feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself.” She talks about what she loves most about Cambridge: visiting other colleges, May Week and when her friends visit she will almost always “take everyone punting.” Indeed, the places that make-up Cambridge are magical, but Apple aptly points out that our connections with fellow students add to Cambridge’s awe. “I also just think that being at a place like Cambridge is obviously going to attract passionate, smart, interesting people,” she adds, “and I think being around curious people all the time is super enriching.”

“I just went in super appreciative and aware of what I was getting myself into”

Apple is also a mature student, coming to Cambridge a little later than the linear path of coming straight after A-Levels. Before reapplying, Apple led a different life: she worked full-time and lived in her flat in London with her cats. I was curious to learn how she feels her journey into higher education has shaped her.

Apple answers that “it was a big decision, reapplying. And so I think coming into Cambridge, I just went in super appreciative and aware of what I was getting myself into.” But, she is also candid about the challenges she faced. She did not apply to a mature college, and as a 22-year-old living with freshers who had just turned 18, it was hard trying to relate to people. “I was very close-minded straight away, so I think I regret not having just taken a step back.” She later realised her sense of belonging at Cambridge, which really comes through in her videos. Now in her second year, Apple is an ents officer, a college mother, and participates in various societies.

Having reflected on how her perspective has shifted over the years, I wanted to ask Apple about her recent ‘Reflections and Resolutions’ video. She expressed her gratitude for achieving a high 2.1 and feeling proud of herself. During our conversation, I address some of the stigmas that can arise with the pressures of being a Cambridge student. Her view is that we need to take a step back, because the other side of Cambridge - the societies, the sports, the hobbies - enhances us and can make us well-rounded, successful individuals. She says that her “advice is to not have such a narrow definition of success and to, you know, be proud of yourself for all the things that you can achieve at Cambridge.”

“My advice is to not have such a narrow definition of success”

Apple started her YouTube channel in 2023. In her first videos, Apple talked about how creating a channel brought her a sense of purpose. I start to think now about how time had passed. We change, we grow, we age. With this in mind, I ask Apple if her videos still brought her purpose. Or, in this new chapter of her life, did visual art form grant her something new to capture or feel? “I don’t think I would use the word purpose anymore because I feel like Cambridge takes up so much of my life now that that feels more like my purpose.” Instead, she says, the driving force for creating videos is that “it’s for memories.”

She continues, “It’s so nice to be able to look back at my videos and relive it. It’s not just photos. It’s now my thoughts and feelings at the time, and seeing my friends and all these little things that I would 100% forget and are now immortalised in these videos.”

With the new year’s arrival, you may be setting goals, thinking about the future, or wanting to try something new. I’m curious about what 2025 will bring for us, and for Apple, it’s the hope to find balance. “I’m looking forward to the fact that I kind of knows what’s going on now,” she reflects. “I’ve been here for over a year and kind of got the routine down now. I’m excited to implement that new knowledge into structure and routine and find a healthy balance.”

I thank Apple for her time, as she has been talking to me from the V&A museum. Like many of us, she is powering through coursework to meet imminent deadlines. Stress, anxieties, and pressures will inevitably arise for us as Cambridge students, but not having a “narrow definition of success” is something we can all take with us as an intention for the new year.