Diplomacy Society: Welfare Officer

Hi! My name is Shelby Long and I am applying to be the Welfare Officer of the Diplomacy Society here at UCL!

Establishing great trust and relationships is a key pillar of diplomacy and so, these same principles should apply to keep this society flourishing. Everyone should feel comfortable and supported (both socially and academically) to conduct respectful discussion that allows different opinions and innovative ideas to arise. I believe welfare plays a huge role in making this possible!

As Welfare Officer, I would work with other universities and societies to hold events that would promote greater participation and inclusivity to further expand our social networks. Most of all, I would contribute with the committee to create a positive and engaging culture within the society; hosting future socials that prioritise our members wellbeing. I will make sure I am available to help all of our members wherever possible!

Thank you for considering me for the role of Welfare Officer! 🕊️

Through my experience leading a school Wellbeing Team and working as a certified mental health mentor, I’ve developed a strong interest in creating environments where people feel comfortable, supported, and able to connect with others. In that role, I organised over 50 wellbeing events and initiatives for more than 800 students, ranging from stress-management workshops to informal social gatherings designed to create spaces where people could relax and talk openly.

As Welfare Officer, I’d love to bring that experience into the Diplomacy Society by helping maintain a welcoming and supportive community for members. Alongside organising socials, I’d be interested in creating opportunities for members to connect with each other outside of formal events, particularly for students who are new to the society or new to UCL.

Societies are at their best when they feel like communities rather than just event organisers, and I’d be excited to contribute to making sure the Diplomacy Society continues to be a space where members feel comfortable engaging, sharing ideas, and building friendships.

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.