I will be resigning from my role as Access, Education & Participation Officer (PG) at Cambridge SU with my last working day being the 20th January 2025.
As I prepare to resign from my role, I find myself reflecting on what has been a truly rewarding and enriching experience. I’m incredibly proud of the work I've done, the initiatives I’ve launched, and the connections I’ve made throughout this journey.
One of my proudest achievements has been the Cambridge Glossary, a simple yet effective initiative that helped make new students feel more at ease as they settled into life at Cambridge. Similarly, the Winter Holiday Activities Guide was another step in ensuring students who remained in Cambridge during the holidays had something to look forward to and ways to stay engaged and avoid feelings of isolation. Additionally, I had the pleasure of supporting the International Students Campaign, which included managing a communication channel with over 500+ international postgraduate students and helping to resolve their queries.
I’m also happy to have made significant progress on one of my key campaigns—the Deferred Admission option for postgraduate students. Since starting in this role, I have been lobbying the University to ensure that postgraduate students have the same opportunity as undergraduate students to defer their admission to Cambridge, which hasn’t previously been an official option. This initiative has now passed through various committees, and while I won’t be here to see it fully realised, I’m hopeful that it will benefit future students and make a real difference in their academic journey.
One of the most rewarding parts of this role has been engaging with students during their induction. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many incredible individuals, and it's been great to help them feel more at ease during their first days at Cambridge. I was also able to meet lots of you during the Freshers' Fair which was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my year. Being involved in its organisation was both exhausting and exhilarating, but I’m incredibly proud to have contributed to such a significant event for students. I also thoroughly enjoyed organising events like movie nights, Bridgemas gingerbread decorating, and Drink and Draw sessions—each one providing meaningful opportunities to connect with students and make their time at Cambridge more enjoyable.
Alongside these initiatives, I had the opportunity to experience some career enhancing skills. For the first time, I sat on a recruitment panel, developed my decision making through sitting on disciplinary committees and working on press statements, and had the privilege of serving as a trustee board member. Through being a Sabbatical Officer, I’ve also sat on numerous committees, representing students and learning more than I ever expected. I feel proud to have achieved so much and gained the amount of experience that I have in such a short time.
The best part of all this, though, has been the interactions with students—hearing how useful or enjoyable these initiatives have been to them has been incredibly rewarding. As I move on from this role, I carry with me not just the memories of these experiences, but a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunities I've had and the support I’ve received from staff. The friendships and connections I’ve made here will always be cherished.
While it’s with a heavy heart that I leave this role for personal reasons, I know that the lessons I’ve learned and the memories I’ve made will stay with me for a lifetime. The saying, "New Year, New Beginnings," couldn’t be truer for me, and I’m excited about what lies ahead. I wish all the best and an amazing new year to my fellow Sabbs, staff members, and, of course, the students. I'll miss being around all of you