Evangeline Bibawy

As an Egyptian-British first year student, I am able to understand what it is like to navigate between cultural identities, and the feeling of being in between two. Diplomacy society attracts all types of students, whether they be home, international, undergraduate or graduate students, and I feel that having a welfare officer who understands the experience of coming from different cultures can make the society feel more welcoming for everyone. I believe that the strength of any society lies in the welcoming and including all members, thus as welfare officer, I would love to create an environment where everyone feels that their voice can be heard and respected, whether that means organising informal socials like meals together, where all members can settle in, or simply being a friendly face who all members feel comfortable contacting. 

Furthermore, having studied diplomacy as a first year politics and international relations student, I have learned that beyond negotiations and agreements, diplomacy at its core is about empathy and understanding different perspectives, which are two attributes that I aspire to bring to the society. Many first year students, including myself, can feel hesitant to voice their opinions or engage in areas of discussion that may be particularly sensitive. However, my hope is to nurture an environment where all students feel comfortable to engage in discussions regarding complex global issues, whilst feeling supported by the society.