What role did you run for and why did you run for LeadLUU?
I ran for Welfare Officer in the 2018 LeadLUU election, with my Big Hair 4 Welfare campaign. I was really interested in mental health support in charities and education, and after hearing about LeadLUU through friends of mine at The Gryphon, I decided to give it a go.
What skills did you gain from the experience of running in LeadLUU?
Loads! I learnt how important it is to push yourself out of your comfort zone now and again. I did some public speaking which I had never really done before, created social media content, and painted a lot of banners. I also learnt about how integral early intervention is in the mental health field, and how LUU could further this. I definitely wasn’t a natural born public speaker, but welfare was something I was passionate about so I thought why not give it a shot!
How has running in LeadLUU impacted your personal life and career?
Taking part in LeadLUU definitely gave me something to talk about in job interviews. After I graduated, I spoke about my campaign and dedication to helping generate change at universities, which helped me to land a starter role in marketing. I’m now working for a mental health charity, and the confidence I built during LeadLUU definitely helped me to get there.
I also ran for LeadLUU at the same time as one of my good friends, so it was a lovely bonus to spend those crazy 2 weeks together. Luckily we were going for different positions!
How did you feel when you didn’t win?
I knew running a campaign would be out of my comfort zone and I really didn’t really expect to win. I was more in it for the experience and to learn more about welfare support in universities – which I did and really enjoyed.
Would you encourage anyone showing interest to nominate themselves and why?
If anybody is considering nominating themselves for an Exec position, I’d encourage them to go for it! I learnt a lot about how student roles work at LUU and met a lot of brilliant staff. It was also lovely to spend time with other students who were passionate about making a positive difference, and to see all the amazing things they achieved.
Want to read more about life as a candidate? Read what LeadLUU 2021 candidates Jody and Jess had to say in our interview here.
We’re getting towards the end of the nomination period, which closes on Friday 4 February, and we’d love for as many students as possible to put their name forward. If Charlie’s account has helped you make your mind up, nominate yourself today.
