We say standing in the Officer Elections is a great opportunity which can kick start your career but where exactly does it lead?
Rather than take our words for it, we will be looking at the experiences of past officers as well as what they have gone to achieve since leaving.
Remember if you have queries don’t be afraid to get in touch by emailing mmd11@aber.ac.uk for a chat, it might be that all important decision to help you decide.
If you know someone that you think would make a great officer, then why not suggest them now at www.abersu.co.uk/elections/suggestastudent.
Standing closes midnight on Monday 26th February.
First, we hear from Lauren Marks who was elected Education Officer in 2015-16 and then AberSU President in 2016 – 2017. Lauren is now a Postgraduate student at UCL University in London.
Why did you choose that role?
Education Officer - I was passionate about making a difference to the way the university supported students academically, how courses were run, how the university invested in facilities and resources, and wanted to ensure that the academic rights of students were represented fairly. Education Officer seemed like a challenging role which would involve a lot of dedication and I wanted to take on something which involved a lot of hard work and dedication as well as something I was passionate about.
President - I wanted to help develop the union itself, and help steer AberSU towards what students in Aber really wanted, and reset the direction and focus. It was a really exciting but challenging time for AberSU and I wanted to make sure that there was a strong driving force behind the work that needed to be done that year. I also wanted to be more involved in representing students on a variety of levels within the university and be more involved in the student movement nationally, not just being confined to one specific remit so I could make a lot of impact in a range of areas of the student experience.
What’s the best memory that you have from running for election and your time as an Officer?
Running for election - Being able to speak to and engage with people who previously might not have been involved in the union, and being able to get them involved during campaigning. The most rewarding part was, as the only woman who ran for President in my year, engaging with other women students particularly and finding ways to help get more women in leadership roles within AberSU.
Being an Officer - everything is so rewarding, you get out as much as you put in to being an officer, so the harder you work, the more rewarding everything is. I think the best memory was launching the #StefansSocks campaign and seeing students and the community come together after a time of hardship and work towards a shared goal of spreading awareness of mental health and helping people share their experiences and offer support.
What do you think you learnt from running in an election and being an Officer?
I learned that no matter how organised or prepared you might think you are for something, there will always be an unexpected barrier to overcome and something you might not have thought of, which made me better at problem solving and overcoming issues and to also be resilient. Being an officer also makes you learn a lot about how Higher Education in Wales and in the UK works, which has helped me land roles within the HE sector after I've left Aber.
What advice do you have for anyone thinking of standing for election?
I don't mean to sound like the Nike advert when I say this, but; just do it! You have nothing to lose and so much to gain just by even running, you learn new things about yourself all the time and literally get to change people’s lives. So if you've got ideas and are passionate, then don't give it a second thought and put yourself out there, be confident and talk to as many people as possible.
If you could go back would you do it all again? Or what would you do differently?
Yes, I would definitely do it all again! The only thing I would do differently is grow 6 extra arms so I could do so many more things in the time I had!
If you could sum up your experiences in five words what would they be?
Life-changing. Rewarding. Inspiring. Fun. Challenging.