Xiaohongshu
Nominations: Nominations closed
Voting: Voting scheduled
Election
Represent the collective interests of commuter students related to events, belonging and transport. Working with the Welfare & Community Officer, represent the needs and priorities that students have with being a Commuter within the Union, UCL and beyond. The Commuter Students' Officer will also lead the Union’s new established Commuter Students' Network to continuing to build an engaging, dynamic and rewarding community of Commuter students and make sure that the Network caters to and is inclusive of all its members.
To vote for this position, you must self-define as a commuter student.
Category
Candidates
I would bring a combination of personal insight and leadership experience to this role. As a commuter myself, I understand the challenges of balancing travel, classes and belonging at university. This motivates me to support others facing similar situations. My previous leadership experience taught me how to communicate effectively across different groups, as well as organising inclusive events. I am approachable and confident working collaboratively, and as a good listener who multi-tasks effectively, I can represent commuter students’ needs while leading the Commuter Students’ Network.
I aim to strengthen the sense of community amongst commuter students by creating more inclusive and accessible opportunities to connect with others. I hope to build closer links between commuter and international students as well as introduce a dedicated commuter instagram for updates. I would also organise cafe socials that fit commuter schedules, introduce a voluntary buddy scheme and study groups. Additionally, I plan to develop commuter focused events and joint activities with the International Students Network. Overall, I hope to make commuters feel more connected and supported.
I am committed to improving the commuter experience, making it more inclusive and easier to navigate. As a commuter myself, I understand the challenges of commuting, and I am dedicated to building a more supportive community. I plan to set up an instagram account for updates on commuter-friendly events, cafe meet-ups and study socials designed to fit commuter schedules. I also hope to introduce an optional commuter buddy scheme, where students from the same area can commute together. Moreover, I aim to work with societies to create more daytime events as well as organise joint activities.
With 3 years at UCL and multiple ambassador roles, I’ve built extensive experience supporting students. Representing UCL on Open Days and leading tours has sharpened my communication, active listening and rapport-building. From the chaos of Welcome Week to handling high-pressure calls on A-Level Results Day, I’ve developed the resilience to help students in their most stressful moments. These experiences drive my commitment to ensuring the 25% of UCL students who commute feel heard and supported. I have the skills and heart to turn our shared challenges into a stronger community here at UCL.
- Launch a dedicated central hub for travel, finance and wellbeing support (accessible online with in-person sessions).
- Advocate for:
- A Commuters' Lounge: a comfy space on campus for students to take naps and recharge during the day.
- Extending the 20-minute ID card tap-in window for attendance to 40 minutes for commuters.
- Create a signposting scheme to inform students of commuter-friendly societies and career workshops/networking events (by assessing and assigning commuter-friendly badges).
- Commuters Connect: Regular and midday/early evening socials (often low-cost/free) to meet fellow commuters.
University is meant to be part of some of the most pivotal years of your life: a time for growth, opportunities and lasting memories. I didn't take make the most of my early years; I was too anxious and couldn't manage my time. As someone who finds value in giving back, I want to help others overcome the same obstacles I went through.
My mission is to ambitiously launch and scale the commuters' network so that it's firmly moulded into student life at UCL, reinforcing inclusivity and belonging in the student body. I'm not just filling a role; I'm running to build a community I wish I had.