Being A Student Ambassador
In this piece, LLB student Sawera tells us all about her role as a Student Ambassador at the City Law School.
As a student ambassador at City, I handled a wide range of duties, including giving campus tours, helping at events, taking check-in calls, and even helping out at graduation ceremonies. Managing these responsibilities alongside my education was undoubtedly a rewarding experience for several reasons.
Firstly, it provided financial support as the role is paid and flexible. They accommodate university timetables seamlessly, allowing me to balance work and study effectively. For example, I could easily conduct campus tours for visitors right after my lectures without any scheduling conflicts. This flexibility not only eases the pressure of managing multiple commitments but also enhances the overall university experience by providing valuable practical experience alongside academic learning.
Additionally, there is potential for more responsibility; for instance, I was offered a senior role in one position after working there for some time, which came with increased pay.
What sort of roles did I perform?
- Campus tours: giving prospective students and their families a tour of the campus and providing information about the facilities and overall environment.
- ID card production: helping new students get their ID cards so they can settle in comfortably throughout their time at campus.
- Open days and Applicant days: acting as a point of contact, greetings, and informative introduction to university life for visitors.
- Student check-in calls: checking in with existing students to make sure all is well and to address any issues they may have and offer advice and information.
- Event assistance: assisting with planning, scheduling, and guest involvement for a range of university events to ensure their success.
- Graduation assistance: offering support to graduating students and their families at ceremonies by helping with welcoming, providing guest services, and making sure everything runs well.
How I balanced this with my studies
Planning strategically and using efficient time management techniques were necessary for managing these demanding jobs with my academic obligations. This is how I approached it:
- Setting priorities: I made sure to give both my academic and ambassadorial responsibilities the attention they deserved by prioritising assignments according to theirdeadlines.
- Understanding scheduling: I use planners and calendars to carefully schedule my time, setting down certain times for classes, studying, and ambassadorial duties.
- Open communication: Keeping lines of communication open with the ambassadorial team and academic advisers aided in the proactive resolution of possible issues and the management of obligations.
Other skills I gained
Apart from the hands-on experiences acquired, serving as a student ambassador allowed me to refine other valuable abilities:
- Improved communication: Speaking with a variety of audiences at events, check-in calls, and campus tours helped me to improve both my verbal and non-verbal communication abilities.
- Excellent time management: Handling several projects under strict deadlines has improved my time management skills.
- Solving problems effectively: During campus tours and events, answering questions and concerns in real time developed an appreciation for quick thinking and efficient problem-solving.
- Collaborative teamwork: Working together with other ambassadors and academic staff promoted a cooperative and cooperative attitude that is necessary for success in any professional situation.
- Leadership development: Taking on tasks like organising events or giving tours of the campus offered many of chances to practice taking initiative and developing leadership skills.
Friendships and networking
In addition, the friendships I developed while serving as a student ambassador were incredibly beneficial.
Collaborating with like-minded individuals who shared a passion for promoting our university fostered relationships that extended far beyond campus life. It was a diverse mix of students from various undergraduate courses such as Business, Sociology, and more, as well as postgraduate students. This diverse blend of backgrounds and perspectives enriched our interactions and contributed to the strength of our bonds.
Being a student ambassador was more about more than just getting paid; it was an amazing opportunity that involved developing new skills, making lifelong friends, and adding invaluable experiences to my university life.