Hi! I’m Darcy, and I’m your Postgraduate Officer this year.
I’ve had a truly enriching experience by engaging in various events on campus, but I’ve noticed a lot of my fellow postgraduates are largely unaware of the resources available to them. Seeing the challenges PG students face both in their studies and daily lives, I felt and continue to feel driven to make a difference. I hope to empower students, ensuring they have the best learning experience at UCL.
This year, my priorities include:
- Encouraging more students who normally do not engage in events, clubs, or societies to be fully involved, enjoying exploring new fields and interests.
- Rolling out a program of events for students, such as alumni talks, networking events, upskilling workshops, and extended learning opportunities that are fun, foster community building, and offer skills development.
- Enhancing the language support resources available for students.
- Ensuring students know their voices are heard and that me and my fellow Sabbatical officers are approachable and connected with the student body.
My highlight from my university experience was working on my UCL changemaker project. Although my project did not successfully secure funding, there was still so much to learn. From gathering information and liaising with potential staff members and partners, to writing my application and hopping on multiple Zoom calls to persuade people, pitch my ideas, and glean feedback, it provided me with a real workplace experience which has been immensely eye-opening, motivating, stimulating, and enlightening. I knew I was fully supported by all the staff involved; no matter what questions I had, instead of wallowing in uncertainty, I could just reach out and get help. While this project might not be well-known among students, I highly recommend getting involved. It’s a fantastic learning opportunity.
My advice to you? You’re going to rock it at UCL by joining all those events, clubs, and societies. But remember, there’s always a little more you could be squeezing into your schedule. So, the next time you’re tempted to chill with “The Big Bang Theory” for the umpteenth time, why not mix it up and head to that event you’ve been postponing? Trust me, while the event itself might not seem like a big deal, every time you step out, you’re increasing your chances for some awesome unexpected encounters. You never know who you might meet or what opportunities might come your way!
Additionally, you’ll definitely want to take a lot more photos than you think you should. You probably won’t notice it at the time, and you might think it’s a bit of an inconvenience taking photos of things, but your university years are never going to come again. In the future, you’ll always be grateful for the memories you’ve preserved through photographs of events and of your friends. Believe me, they’ll bring a big smile to your face someday :)
Besides that, you can always ask for support if you need. UCL provides a wide range of support services, including well-being support, mental health support, academic writing support, financial aid, career support, and more. If you find something missing from the available services, you’re always welcome to request it.
Here's a few handy links to start you off...