Election post
At the most fundamental level, I aspire to strengthen the space provided by the POC Network for LGBTQIA+ students at UCL. It is especially paramount to provide resources pertaining to and amplify awareness towards issues that concern the intersection of individuals' racial, sexual, gender and other neighbouring identities. I hope to be a point of contact for such students and be able to relay the best support possible, through developing opportunities for growth, education, and most importantly, celebration of our multifaceted communities.
I have been involved in a number of societies, as a regular member but also as part of their committees. I have thus had the pleasure to find and enjoy queer spaces within these societies. More specifically, I have held positions in the Asian Social Network and the Salsa Society. I have been responsible for organising and overseeing events for the former, and for the latter, ensuring welfare, managing a team of performers, and assisting in classes. I have thus developed a toolset that allows me to work towards creating a space for students to thrive and be more comfortable in themselves.
The experiences of a queer person of colour has been something I continuously reflect on and navigate through. Particularly in taking up salsa, I have learned it is more than a dance but prime self-expression. No one is confined to a certain role in the partnerwork – there is no expectation one is ought to fulfil. I extend this principle to many areas of our lives, and aim to utilise this so as to dismantle harmful stereotypes in language, in practices, and other social realms. I hope that students are able to set off on a similar journey and have their stories shared, amplified, and heard.