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My name is Poppie Crampton and I am interested in applying for the fulltime sabbatical position of Newman Students’ Union President. Applying for the role of President is important to me as I would like to make a difference to students. Over my last two years at Newman, I have been inspired by the work of our current President, closely observing the impact she has on the lives and self-esteem of others. Our current President has had a profound impact on me, both personally and professionally, enabling me to aspire to change the lives of other students, as she has for myself and many others.
During my second year, I have had the pleasure of representing students by being the Academic Representation Officer for Newman Students’ Union. As a result, this has given me a particular insite into how the Union operates and the exceptional hard work, commitment and dedication that is put into ensuring that Newman students have the best experience possible during their time here. Consequently, this has further inspired me to want to continue collaborating with my amazing SU colleagues and enhance my professional development and experience.
Having faced adversity and significant challenges throughout my personal and professional life, I feel as though I am well-placed to relate to certain struggles students may be facing. As a result, I wish to be given the opportunity to provide the wisdom, knowledge and support to help students grow, flourish and succeed. With this in mind, my aim is to implement the following four promises during my time in office if I have the pleasure of being elected as your SU President:
Promise 1: Making A Difference
Empowering students to live their best lives is at the heart of what we stand for as a Students’ Union. An integral part of empowering students is to encourage them to seek the appropriate help where necessary, push themselves out of their comfort zone and enable them to see their own potential. By making a difference, I hope to inspire students to achieve their dreams. Anything is possible if you believe in yourself.
Promise 2: Meeting The Needs Of Students
As a current Newman student, I completely understand and empathise with the challenges that come with doing a university degree. As a result, I will be able to support students with various difficulties that they may be facing by providing them with the time, opportunity and experience to overcome barriers and succeed in their studies. Oftentimes, asking for help is the first step to achieving success. My aim is to be a visible, approachable President, making students feel comfortable enough to discuss any issues they may be facing and find solutions to their problems. As your SU President, one of my aims is to empower students to not only do their best in terms of academic learning, but to provide my ever-increasing knowledge of the challenges faced in the education system to help others learn about themselves on a more personal level. As a disabled student, I fully understand the frustration from a student’s perspective of not having your needs met. Another aim of mine is to empower you as students to self-advocatte and speak up for what you believe in.
Promise 3: Promoting Equality, Diversity And Inclusion
All students should be given access to equal opportunities, especially at university. Difference, diversity and inclusion are an integral part of learning; however, from personal experience, I believe that it is significantly overlooked in favour of societal ideals. I believe that going to university does not only give you the knowledge and skills necessary for your degree and beyond, but it also gives you the power and control to learn about yourself as an individual in a safe space, allowing you to grow into someone you can be truly proud of. Promoting equality, diversity and inclusion is something I am extremely passionate about. No matter what our gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, religion or beliefs, we are all human and we all deserve to be treated equally, fairly and with respect. Difference should be embraced; life would be boring if we were all the same.
Promise 4: Creating A Safe Space For Success
To succeed, we need to flourish. Following on from my position as Academic Representation Officer, one of my most important aims is to create a safe and confidential space where students can talk openly about any concerns they may have and find solutions to their concerns. Together, we will work through issues and challenges, where students will be supported every step of the way by myself and fellow SU colleagues. I am extremely passionate about making education accessible, equal and fair for all and I hope to achieve that as Newman Students’ Union President.
I look forward to working with you if I have the pleasure of being elected as your SU President.