Hello my name is Patrick, I am a 3rd year CSAD student studying Graphic Design. I also happen to be this year's Student Union WellBeing officer for 2022/23. With most of my university experience having been online and my first proper year being my third and last time at university for the moment, I wanted to experience as much as I could whilst I am here. What better way than to get to work for the Cardiff Met’s Student Union.
Hello my name is Patrick, I am a 3rd year CSAD student studying Graphic Design. I also happen to be this year's Student Union WellBeing officer for 2022/23. With most of my university experience having been online and my first proper year being my third and last time at university for the moment, I wanted to experience as much as I could whilst I am here. What better way than to get to work for the Cardiff Met’s Student Union. Partly why I wanted to do this position is because, having started university at the same time the Covid pandemic began, the pandemic affected my mental health in more ways than one and because all my life mental health has been a struggle and something I try to navigate best I can. Realizing this as I applied for the position, I know that other people who go to Cardiff Met also struggle with mental health and to help people is a good thing, even if it is one person at a time which can make a difference.
With term 1 over, a lot has happened since starting this role, which includes the training that I did in early September. Looking back, at the time having done that training, I found it both helpful and enjoyable. It allowed me to not only understand more of what my part time role entailed, but also to better understand the Student Union as an organization whose existence and purpose is there to help students at Cardiff Met enjoy their time while they attend University. The enjoyable factor stems from getting to work alongside the other part time officers and school reps, it is with gratitude that I got to meet amazing and fellow caring individuals, but also this job gave me some good life long friends. Had the training not happened, as a group consisting of all PTOs and School Reps, we would not be able to do the job well and help the Student Union to the best of our ability.
Training was one aspect of an area I did, other things include the 2022 Freshers Fair at Cyncoed Campus. That was from my memories recollection the first event I helped the SU with and was one of my favorites as I got to experience my first Freshers fair as well as getting to help the SU with various tasks throughout the day. It ended up being rewarding and enjoyable. Additional events included the Black History month quiz that Met and Cyncoed students attended including me, the Diwali event which though nothing well being related happened, the fact that I and the other student colleagues I work with at the SU showed up even if it not relate to our roles, to be visible was important and necessary. If we did not attend any SU events, students would not know who we are or that it was an SU related event, appearing helps the SU and us be known to students and faculty particularly if our presence was needed for a situation
going on at uni based on roles.
Even before doing this role, halfway through my second year, before I traveled I sought help from Cardiff Met of who to go to regarding mental health, and was recommended Leanne Jennings and Pierre Cordin, both professionals of whom work for the University WellBeing service/team. Particularly Pierre, had I not attended his WellBeing chats online I would have struggled more when I first moved to Cardiff from being based in the U.A.E doing university online for a year and a half. It was because I attended many of his events and even helped as a student volunteer on Mental Health day in 2022 that by knowing him, I have been able to help some students with their WellBeing before having this job and by having this job. One example is, in CSAD with one of the L6 Illustration students who was struggling I spoke with, understood what the situation was, and correctly signposted them in the right direction to get further help. Other examples include helping a student who emailed me.
Compared to the other Part Time Officers roles and School Reps roles, with my job position it is a bit slow in comparison because as much as it is my job to help any student at Cardiff Met for their WellBeing, I cannot force or make people come to me. This results in helping a few people at a time, which in the bigger picture may not seem like I have done a lot but actually I would argue the opposite. When I applied for this job, one of the goals I had in mind and wanted to achieve was to help people even if it was one person at a time, because that would make a huge difference to students life and university experience, to which I can check off as I am doing that and will continue to help students. It is better to have a realistic and achievable goal than to have an unattainable one.
With 2 terms left for me with this role, I look forward to being able to help students further, help the Student Union more, collaborate with the School Reps and the other Part Time Officers. It has been a wonderful experience getting to work for the SU but also to help with an area I heavily relate to, struggle with and that other students experience too. At the end of the day, as much as studies are important for all students, our WellBeing and mental health matters more I would say. Too often does the education system put too much pressure on students, so as a student myself firstly but also as the WellBeing officer, I want to ensure all Cardiff Met students have a good full university experience by helping with their WellBeing when possible.