Polish Society: Welfare Officer

Hello everyone, I’m Kaja :). 

I’ve been involved in the Polish Society for the past year and have really experienced the support and readiness to help within it. As a Welfare Officer, I would continue being the support for anyone who is struggling with something, is unsure about university life and may feel anxious about the change from high school environment or anyone who would just like to chat! I love talking to people, exchanging experiences, discussing and listening to other viewpoints on various subjects.

I’ve previously been a Peer Supporter and a Head of House in high school, which allowed me to collaborate with other members on topics such as support system within the House, making it more home-like and creating social activities to help with integration. I looked after younger peers, helped them with schoolwork and encouraged them to reach their full potential. The roles helped me develop my listening skills and I am ready to be there for anyone in need.

The role of the Welfare Officer would be an amazing way of connecting with more people and strengthening the network and community we have within the Polish Society. If trusted with this responsibility, I would make sure to work and collaborate with other members of the Society and its Committee to ensure everyone feels welcome, whether they come from Poland or from other parts of the world and would like to learn more about our culture.

Thanks! See you at the next Polish Society event :)

Hi everyone!

As some of you know, I am a Biomedical Sciences student, going into my third year. During my time at UCL, I have become involved in running several societies, including Life Science Society, in which I am currently the Vice President, but also MedTech UCL, Kinesis Magazine, and UCL SciCon.

I take Wellbeing and Mental Health very seriously, especially seeing how commonly students need help in those areas. As a Welfare Officer, I would actively raise awareness about the services that UCL and other bodies have to offer (as I know firsthand how confusing and complicated it can seem) so that everybody knows where to seek help. I would also like to organize some welfare events, for example watching a movie, but with blankets and pillows.

This year, I have been the Welfare Officer at UCL Kinesis Magazine, which taught me a lot about this position. I attended the Mental Health training at UCL, a three-hour workshop for students in this role. However, it is actually open to everybody and I really recommend it! I also completed the Psychological First Aid course by Johns Hopkins University, on Coursera.

My interests include many areas of life sciences, including bioinformatics, regenerative medicine, and pharmacology, as well as traveling (hitchhiking!). Last year, I was volunteering as a social worker, helping elderly people during the pandemic.

Vote for me for the next Welfare Officer!