Hello, Marhaba, Ni hao, Namaste, Salam, Bonjour, Olá, Ciao, Hallo, and Hola!
I’m Ahmed, your International Officer here at the Guild of Students. Anxiety, excitement, anticipation, joy, and fear, are emotions I am sure you have felt and are feeling after making such a brave choice. Studying abroad is no easy task, and like yourself, I came here without much information as to how things would turn out. 17-years-old, Sudanese, and coming from the UAE, it was a challenge to adapt to such a foreign environment. But let me tell you now that there was not a better decision I could have made. From events, to protests, to diverse friend groups, there is not a single thing worth regretting.
The most transformative part of my experience here as a student has been meeting new people and participating in political life. Coming from a relatively tight knit community, what I saw, heard, and learned made me reevaluate what I truly care about. It made me begin to see the entire world and people as a whole, as my community. How can you not then start talking to everyone and being involved in their concerns the same you do for a smaller community?
As a student, I vividly witnessed the problems students face and the concerns they had greater than their experience as students. To deal with these issues, they turned towards the Guild. The Guild of Students is the centre of student life and the student community. Its task is to represent students on every level, from education, to entertainment, to more pressing and relevant issues of our time. The student community is incredibly diverse, and as such, there are many groups that require special care and focus. That is why we have 13 Officers, all with different duties and goals depending on their area of focus, while still caring for other students beyond their group.
To deal with issues effectively, Officers gather feedback from students and take action on democratically voted student ideas and proposals, which in the past have included things such as Palestine Solidarity and Disabled Students’ Commitment. As my role is concerned with international students, I will direct my efforts to dealing with the most important problems that you guys are facing. This includes issues of employability, hate crimes, mental health, and belonging. However, to connect all these issues together, the central goal will be to build a more communicative and engaged campus, with a more vibrant social life. This will be done through engaging more students in the democratic system, making what the Guild offers more visible, and running exciting events through the year. Some of the events which may happen include a Cultural Day, International Football Tournament, and International Student Socials.
Be on the lookout, stay active and outgoing, and never say no to an event or an invitation. I would love to talk to you all throughout the year so if you see me on campus don’t be afraid to approach me for a discussion or if you would like to offer feedback and suggestions for what the Guild should be doing to better students' lives. I wish you all a very successful academic year and a vibrant social life!