‘Elections are very exciting and there is lot of thrill in the process. You get the chance to design campaigns, make posters and present yourself to your peers in an impactful manner. To anyone standing, I would advise to work on your manifesto and prepare it so that you could justify whatever you write and can actually work towards fulfilling that. Don’t promise something you cannot do.’

– Harsimrat is Course Rep for Public Health MSc, representing fellow students to enhance the learning experience. 

Negotiating and influencing skills 

‘What motivated me to become an officer was the opportunity to work within the University, influence key decisions that involved student life and wellbeing, and work within a sports– centric role, which is my passion.’

– Obafemi is a full-time officer, representing Sport and Student Development, and founder of MOB Football 

Research and analytical skills

‘I would advise anyone standing for election to research the role and what you would like to do with it, also what you would like to build upon and continue. Have fun with the roles. It really is a good insight into various skills and opportunities that you can develop and build whilst at University.’ 

– James Fishwick is chair of the Widening Participation network, representing underrepresented groups in the student community.  

Collaboration 

‘Without a doubt, my favourite part of my role was teamwork. I was surrounded by students, mental health activists, academics, doctors, researchers and policy makers, all of whom had innovative and energetic ideas to improve student wellbeing. It was as challenging as it was gratifying.’ 

– Olivier was chair of the Wellbeing Network 20/21, working to ensure students’ needs are met and raising awareness of mental health and wellbeing. 

 

 

Standing for election is a great way to develop these skills and many more. All the roles give you the opportunity to connect with others, make lasting change, and be a voice for your peers. And you can use the experience towards your Bristol PLUS Award, meaning you’ll get extra recognition for your commitment.  

How can I get started? 

If you’re wondering which of the elected roles might be right for you, take this SU Quiz to find out!  

Next, you’ll need to nominate yourself. Check out our more comprehensive blog post with all the steps to take!  

Still unsure? A final word of motivation: 

‘Just go for it, there’s no harm and it is a massively rewarding experience towards your future, regardless of where you envisage yourself ending up. Don’t let the fear of losing stop you from running –, I 100% thought I had no chance based on my competition, but you never know, and at the end of the day, it’s not the end of the world!’ – Obafemi