Xiaohongshu
If you told me 3 years ago that I would end up becoming a Sabbatical Officer, I would've probably asked two questions:
1) What is that?
And upon hearing the job description: 2) Are you crazy?
My UCL journey
As a first year, I very quickly dove headfirst into artsUCL and did absolutely anything and everything I could get my hands on. Like everyone else, I had my gripes and complaints about certain procedures or the way things were being run. I realised that I wanted to be in a position to change things and the best way to do that was from within. Throughout my time as an undergraduate, I worked my way up from Freshers' Rep to Vice-President, then eventually to President of UCL's Drama Society. During my term as President of Drama Society, I gained a lot of insight into our activity spaces and the processes for student leaders.
I didn’t go into my third year at UCL expecting to run for a Sabbatical position either. I started considering it as an option in the midst of the end-of-university Career Crisis™️that everyone knows (and does not love). I thought, ‘what the hell, sure’. I ended up running on a campaign promising to make Union bureaucracy less of a barrier for students who actually want to make change.
Campaigning and making change
I gained a lot of confidence during the election, especially when I needed to psych myself up to approach strangers in the Main Quad and convince them to care about an election they hadn't participated in before. I ended the week on a high note and made a promise to myself. I wanted to maintain the energy and passion I'd managed to channel by putting myself out there.
Running for an elected position is no small task. It can feel daunting to put yourself on a platform for others to perceive and judge. What I will say is that the opportunities we have to achieve change are invaluable. As a Representative, you have the chance to vote on policies that come through our Policy Zones (Activity, Welfare, Education). Any regular student can attend our Zones, and our Union Executive, but you have an equal vote to any of our Student Officers and Sabbs at these forums. You get to develop skills in communication, collaboration, and representation. A lot of your experiences as a Representative will help you for years to come, even in your time after UCL. If something has been really bugging you (whether you’ve been here for years or you’ve been here for a month), this is your chance to take action. This is your chance to get your voice heard and stand up for issues that you believe in.
Nominate yourself now!
I cannot express how amazing an opportunity it is to run for a position in our Students’ Union. And again: you have absolutely nothing to lose.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask away ([email protected]), or ask the Elections Team ([email protected]).
Best of luck to everyone running this term, and for those of you who are still on the fence, I hope you’ve been convinced :)