Wednesday 09-10-2024 - 09:00

Welcome/Welcome back to your journey here at Manchester Met! My name’s Gracie Otley, your Student Wellbeing Officer for 2024/2025.

I just wanted to introduce myself, what the officer role is, my own personal academic journey, my campaigns and the ways in which I play an active role in improving the student experience

 

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🤔So, what is a Student Officer?

My job, with the rest of the elected Officer team, is to make sure that when the university makes decisions involving students, it’s only to benefit you.

In a nutshell, a Student Officer is basically a student politician. We’re elected by you as students to serve in different areas of interest and ensure that your voice is heard when the university is making big decisions.

There’re 5 of us working full-time for a year in different areas such as Wellbeing, Education, Societies and Sport. We also have our fabulous president too, who is a Governor at the university! We lead the Union in our positions as charity trustees of the board and represent you on important issues.

During my time as your Wellbeing Officer, I'll be using my influence to work with the mayor through the Greater Manchester Student Partnership on issues such as accommodation, travel, mental health and safety in the city.

I’ll also be attending National Lobbying Day in Parliament to influence MP’s on abolishing guarantors and sitting on committees like Education Committee to ensure the student voice is heard at high levels in the university.

 

 

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🤷You’re probably wondering how on earth did she get there?

Every story is different. No single student out of over 40,000 at Manchester Met has the same story and that is okay. It’s important to remember how far you’ve come.

If there is anything you tell yourself today, let it be ‘I am proud of who I am and how far I have come’ because you should be, no matter your experience💛

 

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📚The decision to go to Uni:

It all started in October 2020 when I realized something had to change. With personal challenges and the pressures of studying during COVID, I was failing in college and felt stuck. So, I decided to take a gap year to focus on myself and, as cliché as it sounds, find my inner self.

After going to counselling and prioritising my wellbeing, I went back to college a year later to complete my final year, not knowing where life was going to take me. I knew I had to trust my newly formed ‘inner self’ and that everything would unfold at the right time.

I’d never wanted to go to university, ever. No one in my family had ever been, so I guess I didn’t see the need for going. Then, in December 2021, I studied the effects of globalisation in my politics class. from this, I knew my purpose was to help others. It was as if a flame ignited inside me. But, if I was to help others on a global scale, I knew I needed to get uncomfortable and try something new. I needed to go and get a degree.

After a lot of thought, I applied to Manchester Met through the clearing process for International Business Management. I don’t think my parents could believe it when I had told them, I don’t think I could believe it to be honest.

And just like that, I arrived at Manchester Met, where I lived in Cambridge Halls throughout my first year. If I said it was easy, I would be lying. I struggled to get used to being away from home in the beginning, so much so that I handed in my notice to leave university. But, in the week to retract the notice, I knew I’d come so far, I couldn’t let myself or my family, who had invested so much in getting me here, down.

Retracting that notice was the best decision I’ve ever made and to this day I am so happy I made that decision.

 

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✨The Lifestyle and Wellness Society:

For months I saw others on campus like me who seemed to live a balanced lifestyle. However, there was no way to connect. I discovered something called societies at The Union and had a look into creating my own.

After encouragement from family and friends, I began the Lifestyle and Wellness Society at the end of my first year. A student community, focused on building a positive lifestyle and wellness habits. I never could have imagined what would happen next.

We launched, in September 2024, as a committee of 4 strangers. Throughout the year, the society gained over 300 members and each week we’d host different events from wellness walks to canvas painting and vision board making. It was a truly incredible and inspiring year. I am so blessed to have met such empowering people and to have had a supportive team.

 

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🤯Being nominated to be a Student Officer:

In February of this year, I received an email to say that a member of staff at The Union had nominated me to put myself forward as a Student Officer. The biggest smile on my face erupted when I got the email, not even knowing what an officer was, just that someone in their day thought of me.

I thought why not just go to the meeting and see what it’s about? When the Wellbeing role was mentioned and described, the flame ignited again. I knew I had to go for it.

Despite a challenging election, 150,000 steps later you elected me as your 24/25 Wellbeing Officer, which I am now completing as a full-time role.

Truly, thank you for believing in me. Little me would never believe where I am now, and nothing brings me more fulfilment than putting my energy into pursuing positive change for your experience❤️

 

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🫶My Priorities as your Student Wellbeing Officer

Over the summer, the Student Officer team have been training to ensure we can be the best Officers for you. Collectively we have 4 priorities, identified from our manifestos.

They are:

• Money Matters

• Personal Development

• Community and Belonging

• Visibility

This semester, I’ll be running a campaign called The Student Self-Care Movement, which explores the 5 areas of personal development and how you can incorporate them into your own experience.

This will be followed by demonstrating different student experiences and the way others have grown through their journeys. Growing isn’t just about the good- there are bad and ugly times too. It’s ok to recognise them and know that you are not alone.

Stay up to date with my Instagram as well as The Union's social media for more information on how you can get involved.

 

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👋Round up…

It’s important to remember, every one’s journey is different and there may be hurdles you need to overcome. Remember you have come so far in your experience, be proud of that and own it. You’re not alone. Embrace each moment in the person you are becoming.

If it all gets too hard, never be afraid to reach out. It’s exactly what The Union are here for. We are here for you and your experience and have a tremendous team of individuals here to support you at any point throughout the year💛

And remember, you’ve got this!