Hear from our past Student Officers about how the role shaped them.
Adnan Hussain
President 2019/21
Why did you decide to nominate yourself to be a Student Officer?I decided to run for President as I had believed I could do a good job at it.
What was running in the Elections like?Running in the election was one of my favourite experiences at University. It was tough but exciting at the same time.
How has being a Student Officers impacted your future?Becoming President gave me a boost in confidence in both my working and personal life. I had gained valuable experiences in leadership, lobbying, communications and more.
Chloe Field
Deputy President 2020/21
Why did you decide to nominate yourself to be a Student Officer? After the 2019 general election, I felt incredibly frustrated at the direction our country was going at and often felt very powerless. I could see there was a lot of stuff at University that desperately needed changing such as better support for sexual violence survivors and the cost of student rents. I believed that running for student officer would provide that space for change and influence in making life better for students!
What was running in the Elections like?It was incredibly scary at first and I knew I was stepping out of my comfort zone, however it was such an amazing experience once I got into it! It really boost my confidence and also helped me develop a variety of skills.
How has being a student officer impacted your future?I loved being a student officer and made me inspired and confident enough to want to make more change at a national level; leading to me running for and getting elected as Vice President for NUS!
Lina Dubbins
Vice-President 2022/24
Why did you decide to nominate yourself to be a Student Officer? I bumped into one of the previous student officers in the Tesco express! We started chatting and she mentioned her job. Well, later I had a look on the Guild website, and it sounded like a really exciting role. I’d always been interested in advocating on issues, and I’d noticed things throughout my experience as a student which I really wish could be changed. This job was the perfect way to try and do just that – so I nominated myself!
What was running in the Elections like? It was definitely a unique experience and at first a little intimidating. But, by the end of the first day I’d had so much fun chatting to loads of people and the other candidates. It was a really important learning experience and built my confidence hugely.
How has being a student officer impacted your future? Being a student officer provided with so many opportunities to develop my skillset, especially in public speaking and navigating difficult work situations. As a result, I was able to land a new job even though it was in a completely different field, purely because of the skills and experiences I’ve had. It’s also hugely impacted my personal growth and my studies – I’m no longer scared of presentations!
Kathryn Manley
Deputy President 2022-24
Why did you decide to nominate yourself to be a Student Officer? I wanted to make changes on campus and ensure the everyday student experience was improved. There are so many things that a student union can do and I had so many ideas for both the University and the wider Liverpool community. I also had a real interest in the education sector and how it functioned so being a student officer is a great way to learn more about education and just how universities operate in general.
What was running in the Elections like? Absolutely nerve wrecking and I was in bed at 9pm every night. However, it was fun speaking to so many students everyday and being able to share my campaign ideas whilst also learning about other student experiences.
How has being a student officer impacted your future? The role has given me so many transferable skills. It also enabled me to learn about a range of different subjects that I never knew much about such as sustainability, finances and governance. I am a really nosey person and love researching and reading about a range of topics so the role really enabled me to learn as much as I can and ask questions about everything.
Vas Samuels
President 2022-24
Why did you decide to nominate yourself to be a Student Officer? I was a student during the pandemic, and my university experience was really impacted. I wanted to be part of the decision-making process to improve the student experience and ensure students’ voices were heard. I also believed that gaining this experience would provide valuable skills and insights to support my future career.
What was running in the Elections like? Running in an election was one of the most exciting and challenging things I’ve ever done. I would have considered myself an introvert before running, so it really pushed me out of my comfort zone. You get to meet other candidates and connect with hundreds, if not thousands, of students. It’s a truly unique experience.
How has being a student officer impacted your future? I want to pursue a career in law, which is such a competitive field. Being able to say I was President of the Guild automatically makes me stand out as a candidate. The role allowed me to work on such a broad range of issues, giving me a wealth of experiences to draw from during interviews and assessment centres.