End of Year Update - Victoria Hurley

Tuesday 30-06-2020 - 10:56
Vic thumb

It’s the last day of your 2019/20 Exec Committee’s time in office! Vic, your Vice President, Education & Welfare, shares her end of year update. Our final update will be from your President, Megan, this afternoon!

If I’m honest, I don’t really know where to start. I think I can speak on behalf of us all and say semester 2 has taken me on an emotional roller-coaster!

Coming back to work after the Christmas break I think I was very much in the ‘new year new me’ mindset and wanted to be very focused on work, making a change for the student experience as at this time, it could of been my last chance if I didn’t run/win the elections! 

I knew I had so much I wanted to do and had so much planned. Obviously things don’t always go to plan at first, with the UCU Strikes and then COVID-19: - supporting you all and being the main communication path for you guys was tricky! Also before we could really represent our members we had to educate ourselves too - I think a lot of people forget this! We’re constantly learning on this job, which is such a blessing as I have gained so much knowledge, but also we might not have all the answers right away (but trust me when I say we will find out for you!). 

I can’t pretend that everything is sunshine and daisies because that wouldn’t being truthful, there have been some very difficult times (I think if you have come into the office and seen us sometimes you would understand – or virtually on our twitter rants!). It’s so important to recognise and understand the difficult times rather than brushing past it, as we can learn from this and create positivity out of negative energy. I am a true believer of this and try include this ‘mantra’ in everything I have done, from studying to this job, to my personal life! 

COVID has hit us hard in the Student Union. We understand that the experience of our students has been compromised, and really it’s our job to make sure you get the best possible experience. From living your best University life on/off campus, extra-curricular opportunities, our plans – awards evenings etc. have all been postponed for a while – I could go on. We are all gutted that we have missed out on all these fun experiences, but if you believe anything, trust that we will be working hard to give you the best experience this coming academic year. 

In a way, I believe lockdown has been a blessing, especially for my mind and focus on work. It has allowed me to look back at this year and some of the projects I have been part of, e.g. Go Green Week & Let’s Talk About Sex Week, and really think about the improvements that could be implemented to make these projects best for students. I have had the chance to think and plan for next year – obviously all things depending on government guidelines etc. – but I really think we can create a great student experience! And looking at the bigger picture, it has really allowed us to slow down and see what is important to us. I know I have never been as thankful for my health, friends and family as I am now – and will cherish this now and always. 

Reflecting back on this last semester, and the year really, I have been so lucky to be able to surround myself with such positive, hard-working and caring people within the Student Union. I’ve made life-long friends from students to staff members and cannot wait to continue building these. I think you’re all sick of hearing it, but I love this job, and I’m so incredibly lucky to work so closely alongside Megan & Ellen because I truly don’t know how I would of got through this year without them (enough of the soppiness now 😉 ). I would like to take this chance to thank every single one of you too, for electing me to be your Vice President, Education & Welfare for TWO years now! Got to live up to the expectations and smash it just like we all will next year! Bring on this next year and I can’t wait to see you all soon, safely!

Sending SU Love,

Vic x

(Vice President, Education & Welfare, 2019-2021)

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