Student Case Study #4 - Karl Stanley, Halls Committee volunteer

Friday 08-04-2016 - 13:54

Karl Stanley

Karl Stanley

Politics & International Relations, Year 2.

 

When did you get involved in NTSU?

In my first year I got involved in the halls committee through the recommendation of the Freshers Reps. This led on to other things, including being nominated for an NTSU Award for Halls Event of the Year after I organised an inter-halls charity football match as part of my halls committee.

 

In what capacity are you currently involved with NTSU?

Volunteering and Fresher Repping. Volunteering projects I have been involved in include a blindness awareness day in conjunction with the Guide Dogs charity where we held a blindfolded taste test and took students on a blindfolded walk around the SU building to give them a feel for what it is like to be visually impaired.

 

I’m also working on a volunteering project linked to Varsity. The idea is to get local schools down to do a sports day using our facilities, which will get students involved in the community and show the community the positive work that students do.

 

In another recent volunteering project I delivered an afternoon of lessons on the topic of fair trade to year 5/6 pupils at a local school. It was amazing to see how aware the children were and how well they understood global issues and the importance of fair trade and sustainability. It was great to be able to talk to these children and educate them while also getting useful experience for myself.

 

What impact has being involved in NTSU had on your time at NTU?

It has definitely made it a lot better and I feel like I have got a lot more out of university through my involvement with NTSU. It’s a good way to use your time and give something back. Being involved in the SU also gives you something constructive to focus on and be involved in besides your course, which I think is important. I’d like to carry it on, even after I graduate.

 

Do you feel it has helped with your personal development?

Absolutely. It has taught me a lot and has really helped to build me as a person. I feel like I have grown so much since being here from what I have been able to learn, not just academically, but also socially and culturally, especially about Nottingham itself.

 

Do you think being involved in NTSU is helping you prepare for life after uni?

There’s a lot of transferable skills you learn through taking part in SU opportunities. For instance, the volunteering roles have taught me about time management as well as things like how to do risk assessments and fill out health & safety forms. I have also had the opportunity to get training around managing teams and organising events which is something I want to do in the future, so it has given me a good start in that respect.

 

Would you recommend that other students get involved in NTSU?

I think it’s really important for students to get involved. It helps you get the full flavour of university life and also gives you extra things to put on your CV. This is one of the best SUs I have seen in the country; there’s over 150 clubs & societies as well as RAG & Volunteering. It sounds cliched, but there really is something for everyone.

 

Categories:

Student Stories , Your Opportunities

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student stories, Volunteering, Your Opportunities,

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