What do you do?

Hi, guys, and welcome to the University of Reading. My name is Puja, and I’m going to be talking to some staff and students about the support available at university. Yeah, everyone is staring at me because I’m walking with a camera behind me and I’m not vlogging.

So we’re here with Rhiannon today, she’s a student here at the university. So you work as a student ambassador, what does that role entail? So the role of a student ambassador is kind of to support new students, erm especially freshers, that’s what we’re doing this week. We give them advice on how to get around the university. We show them around, campus tours are a big thing for ambassadors. So mainly I work with year 12 students, erm, who are thinking about coming to university but not really sure how it works, or what that entails. Erm, so I work with kind of a select group, coming from schools where mainly not a lot of people, kind of progress onto higher education.

So they apply themselves, and they get paired up with us and we kind of do things, like we run academic sessions where they meet erm, our staff. And then, personally, I do a lot of online mentoring, kind of answering any questions they might have about what university life is like. I go out to local schools in and around Reading, help with their curriculum. Erm, do student life presentations and talk about what it’s like being a student here, and help with open days. And yeah, no, it’s really really rewarding and I really, really enjoy it. So basically we help prospective students, give them a tour of the campus and, erm, answer any questions that they may have.

And if they’re not comfortable asking a few questions to the teachers or anything, they can ask us about it. So why are you a student ambassador, what made you apply for the role? So originally, the role of a student ambassador, I saw on Campus Jobs, we have Campus Jobs here. And I saw that the pay was really good, initially. So I was like I’m going to apply for this, this is something that I’ve never done, so let’s go for and see what happens. And I also remember, when I first came to university, I was really, really scared, really anxious, because I hadn’t been away from home ever in my life.

So I came to the student ambassadors and they were so helpful. And they were really passionate, and they knew everything about the university and really helped me out. So I also thought, if I can learn how to do that, then maybe I can help someone in the same situation as me so they won’t be as worried as I was when I first came. I actually did a lot of these courses as a student, so like in sixth form I applied to a couple of different universities, because I’m the first one in my family to go to university. I didn’t have anyone to ask these questions to. So I thought with that experience, and how useful it was to me.

I could, I had something to offer to younger students. I love going out to the schools and helping out, erm, with their curriculums and stuff and like meeting all the characters, they’re such a laugh. And I used to want to be a teacher. So I find it just opens up your career’s doors, and you meet so many people by meeting fellow student ambassadors. And it’s just a really nice way to make friends with different people that you otherwise wouldn’t make. Would you recommend people apply to be a student ambassador? Definitely, honestly, I’ve had the best time meeting new people. And it’s just different, everyone’s quite jealous, like of me because I’m a student ambassador.

And I’m like, yeah, I feel quite cool.

Favourite thing about university? Favourite thing? I actually love my campus. I would say that’s the best thing about it. Er, I can relax, it’s not really like I’m very stressed. I just go out whenever I want, and it’s a good way to study. It just feels really nice to be kind of away from– I don’t want to say my parents, because I do love my parents– but I love being independent as well, and learning those skills to be independent. It’s like a really good life experience. I love being a student here. It’s, I’ve got some really good housemates I live with. I’m really enjoying my course.

Erm, it’s tough at times, but we’ve got good facilities to kind of help you with your studies, and all our lecturers are very supportive. Favourite thing about being a student? Oh, um, oh, the community. Love that.