Semester One Update - Maria Freitas

Wednesday 04-12-2019 - 11:52
Maria freitas   blog thumbnail

It’s the final two weeks of Semester One! Want to know what your elected Executive Committee have got up to this semester? Every day they will be posting their updates as we countdown to Christmas! Next up is Student Officer Maria Freitas...

And just like that it’s December again.

This semester has been a whirlwind of emotions when tired seemed to be my constant state of being, but I guess that’s just a side-effect of third-year. Nevertheless, these past 12 weeks (plus the extra 2 weeks leading up to the beginning of the semester) have been some of the most rewarding for me, and the Student Union is one of the biggest reasons why.

The beginning of the semester was as exciting as ever. Yes, it is now two months down the line, and I am still unable to look at an orange box the same way, but that is part of the job. From helping new students move in and meeting them at the different events going on through the week to welcoming everyone else back during BOP and Freshers Fayre, I had a blast during this week and couldn’t be prouder of our Student Union.

From the 4 points of my portfolio the one I have been busier with has been Student Demographic Representation. I was happy to sit in a couple of Student Engagement Advisory Group meetings where we discussed how to better understand and support our students and possible collaborative campaigns between different parts of the University and the Student Union. Along with that I couldn’t have been happier to be invited to an International Student Support Group meeting! Being an International Student myself it is good to finally meet the people that help get all our International Students to Winchester and collaborate with them. In addition, I was glad to meet many of our Mature, Commuting and Part-time students in a couple of the Welcome Week talks that happened during Freshers week and go to the International Students Network welcome session.

I have also been working hard on my role with Student Wellbeing. This is a topic that is very close to my heart and I was delighted to be there for the entire Student Recharge Day on the 11th of November and see so many of you engage with the different activities the Student Union brought to you. Hats off to Vic, our Vice President Education & Welfare and all the INCREDIBLE staff at the SU that was involved with this day, it was amazing, and I cannot wait for the next one. It was also great to be involved in the World Mental Health Day celebration back on the 10th of October by writing a “little” blog post about my own battle with mental health and seeing the lovely things everyone wrote at the post-it wall at Terrace Bar, Vic has some of the quotes up on her wall now and you better believe me when I say I stop by the office at least once a week to look at them and get a little positivity boost.

Apart from that I was lucky enough to be able to attend all four Zone meetings as well as Student Senate and see what our students think of the Student Union’s work so far and where we could improve. We have also started the talks about Summer Ball, and I wish I could tell you all about it but it is a secret for now, just believe me when I say it will be great. Still on my plate for this semester is a meeting with our star of a Student Advisor, Rhian, about all things wellbeing and housing and hopefully getting involved in This Girl Can and the planning of other campaigns coming to you in Semester 2.

I hope you all have a fabulous time at Christmas Ball, I am sure I will see some of you there, and that you also enjoy your holiday celebrations with your family or friends wherever in the world you’re celebrating. Take some time to recharge your batteries and be around the ones you love the most, enjoy all the great home-cooked meals (especially the desserts) and get rid of all the stress you build up this semester.

Merry Christmas (OR Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Omisoka or anything else you celebrate). I will see you back in Winchester in the new year when we can all celebrate being back in the Roaring 20s.

Your Student Officer,

Maria Freitas

Related Tags :

More Winchester Student Union Articles

More Articles...