The Economists' Society: Welfare Officer

UCL courses can be a pressure cooker. Between the constant noise about Spring Weeks and the looming shadow of the upcoming midterm, it’s easy to feel like you’re only as valuable as your next internship offer. I’m standing for Welfare Officer because I’ve spent too many nights feeling like I was the only one struggling to keep my head above water.

Last year, I hit a wall. I was balancing a heavy workload with personal stress, and the "hustle culture" in our department made me feel like admitting I was burnt out was a sign of weakness. It wasn’t. But it took me a long time to realize that most of us are feeling the exact same way behind the polished LinkedIn posts. I realized that while EconSoc is incredible for careers, we’ve neglected the "human" part of being a student.

This gap is where I want to step in. I’m not just proposing more ‘wellbeing emails’ that get lost in your inbox; I want to build a tangible support network within EconSoc that acknowledges our pressures.Nobody should feel like they’re navigating it alone. My focus will be on creating regular ‘Low-Stakes Socials’—spaces where the only requirement is to show up as you are now.

I want to change the narrative from "surviving" the degree to actually enjoying it. My goal isn't just to signpost you to a website; it’s to build a community where we actually look out for each other.

Hi Economists' Society, my name is Cindy and I’m running to be your next Welfare Officer. 

This year I’ve had the pleasure of serving as a First Year Representative, which allowed me to see the society from behind the scenes, not just as an events-focused organisation, but as a collaborative community working to create opportunities for aspiring economists.

What stood out most was the environment created by the leadership team. FYRs were able to contribute meaningfully without unhealthy pressure, while still encouraged to grow into our roles with confidence. To me, this balance between support and ambition defines the Economists’ Society, and it is something I would like to strengthen further as Welfare Officer.

If elected, I would focus on three key areas:

1. Supporting the wellbeing of FYRs by working with directors to ensure expectations remain manageable alongside academic commitments. 
2. Strengthening ties between the society and first-year Economics students through communication with class representatives, and introducing an Economists’ Society group chat so members stay connected.
3. Establishing an anonymous feedback form open throughout the year so members can raise concerns comfortably.

I believe welfare isn’t just about responding to problems, but about paying attention to small organisational details that help prevent them. I care deeply about the continued growth of the Economists’ Society and see this position as an opportunity to contribute to that.