Hi everyone!

I am Raquel and I am your current Vice President, for Health and Education, Science and Technology. Before starting this role, I was both an international and a commuter student who never really engaged with the university outside of studies but then I went on to join a sports team and became employed by the Student Union. 

Everyone's experience at University is different, however, we probably have one thing in common – we spend so many days in the library that we have already lost count. At some point we have all struggled to submit our assignments due to the overwhelming number of deadlines in the same week and at a certain point we were wishing to see our diploma at graduation.

In the beginning of the year, I decided to start my main campaign – Stressed Out Students – which ultimate goal was to help you. I put out some free activities, I liaised with the well-being services to run some destress workshops and I even brought dogs to campus.

However, it always gets to these final months – coursework deadlines, exams and for some students dissertation - and I struggled to find a way to help you. The only thing that came to my mind would be to offer you some food – this way you would eat and reenergize!

That’s why tomorrow, 1^st of May, I will be handing free food in front of the library! We will also have some leaflets to help you cope with the stress and also information about our own independent and free students’ union advice service, in case you want someone to help you with a deferral, a misconduct panel or even a complain.

Also, all this information will be available in the SOS SURVIVAL GUIDE! This guide will provide you all the information on how to get a deferral or an extension, the best places to study around campus and so much more!

I truly hope that all of this can help you somehow and I wish you the best of luck handing in all your assignments and finishing your placements. My special congratulations to everyone graduating in July and in December! Your VP is proud of you.