Campus Cutie: Miss Rachel Mawhinney!

Age: 21

Studies: Maths

Hometown: Portavogie

This week I was ever so lucky to be able to interview one of my closest friends at university, Rachel. Our friendship blossomed during fresher’s week when a friend of mine had plonked me down next to Rachel (in what was the Union Bar at the time) exclaiming ‘Freya this is Rachel. You’ll like each other because you both play the flute!’ (because that’s how all friendships start, obviously…).  But sure enough, once we had moved from the ‘mutual flautists’ part of conversation we were deemed friends for life. Rachel hails from Portavogie in Northern Ireland. Never call Rachel ‘Irish’: it’s either ‘Northern Irish’ or nothing- I discovered this very quickly during our first few conversations!

This will probably be the last campus cutie article I will do with Her Campus Aberdeen, so of course I saved the best cutie for last. So let’s find out more about this Northern Irish beauty.

Hey Pup! I know that I know everything about you already, but can you rack your brains for three totally unique facts about yourself that people won’t know?

1.     I have weird thumbs and I physically can’t do the thumbs up. The most I can get is a weird slanty diagonal thing going on.

2.     My biggest life dream is to climb Mount Everest.

3.     I used to spend all my summers at football camp when I was younger.

Those are certainly unique- I think I only knew about one of those! Okay, let’s be honest here, people are going to want to know why you study maths, so Rachel, tell us why? Do your future career aspirations involve the subject?

I ask myself that all the time. I guess I liked Maths at school and I thought uni Maths would be a good idea…I was wrong. Although I do still love solving a good equation! I’m not sure what I want to do in the future, I’m still waiting for career inspiration to strike. I’m applying for a maths PGCE currently though so I might just end up being a wee Maths teacher! Or maybe I’ll just take over from Rachel Riley on Countdown.

Countdown wouldn’t even realise their luck! However, I think you’d make an absolutely amazing teacher too. You’re in your fourth and final year at Aberdeen University (eek!) Have you been a part of any societies during your uni time? What made you want to do them and how would your sum up your time as part of these societies?

I’ve been involved in the Christian Union and Concert Band at uni. I wanted to join the Christian Union because, well, I’m a Christian and it was a great place to meet like-minded people (it’s actually where I met both of my flatmates) and it helped me find a great church to get involved in!

And it was during Fresher’s week I decided to join Concert Band because I met this cool girl at the Union Bar and we decided we’d be friends and join together ;) (This is 100% true: we even sent each other nervous texts about going together) I’ve loved my time at Concert Band and I met some of my closest friends there. I’ve also been on the committee for two years now and it’s been great being so involved. We actually have a massive concert of film music at the Music Hall coming up on the 30th of March which I’m buzzing for!

Guys, seriously, you would be crazy to miss this concert.

Back to you Rach, what would be your absolute highlight from your time here (apart from meeting me obviously) and is there anything you still want to do before you leave?

How on earth am I meant to pick one highlight out of four years? What a stupid question Freya. Gosh. I really don’t know I have loads of highlights! Can I just say something cringe like “meeting all my great friends”?

Well, I’d like to graduate before I leave, that’s a big one. I’ve always wanted to go to Go Ape as well actually!

Sorry for the tricky questions, just trying to keep it fresh, you know? ANYWAY, for people, such as yourself, who may have moved here from outside of Scotland what advice would you give them about making the most of their ‘Scottish experience’?

Be prepared for your accent to be a constant novelty. It’s been nearly four years and I still can’t say “eight”, “hour” or even “maths” without everyone immediately repeating it after me. And go to lots of ceilidhs because they’re crazy fun!

Before I let you go: here’s a quick fire round!

Single/Taken? Single

Perfect date? I have no idea…maybe just a nice walk somewhere? Or doing something fun. Or anything involving food.

Food is very important to this cutie, so take a note, lads.

Dream holiday? I’ve weirdly always wanted to go to Cornwall. I have big dreams.

Your aspirations astound me. If you could have any job in the world what would it be? A spy.

Celebrity crush? Chace Crawford

Could not agree with you more. 

Thank you to my amazing friend and cutie for this interview. You’re such a star!