Reflecting on the year: Sam, VP (Education)

Can't believe it's already a year. A year filled with growth, learning, building meaningful connections, navigating challenges, making strategic decisions, and creating memories that I'll carry with me for years to come.  

What's perhaps even harder to believe is that none of this almost happened. Reflecting on where it all started, I still vividly remember chatting with a friend just minutes before nominations closed. I was completely undecided about whether I should run. With barely ten minutes left before the deadline, I finally took the leap and submitted the form. Looking back now, it's amazing to think that a conversation in those final moments may have completely changed the course of my life. 

I remember campaigning across campus, speaking to students, handing out flyers, and probably spending more time in the Atrium than I ever had before, eventually somehow emerging as the successful candidate amongst six other incredible candidates in what was definitely a closely contested and unpredictable election for the role. Ironically, I was so unsure of the outcome that I was reluctant to even attend the count. To this day, I'm still grateful to every student who put their trust in me. 

And now, somehow, a whole year has passed. 

It's difficult to put into words what this role has meant to me. It has been one of the most challenging, rewarding, humbling, and exciting experiences of my life. 

Throughout the year, one question I have been asked more times than I can count is: "Sam, what do you do as VP Education?" 

The short answer is that I represent students on educational matters across the university. The longer answer is that it means attending meetings, lots and lots of meetings. Meetings with senior university leaders, academic staff, professional services, and student representatives. It means sitting in rooms I never imagined I'd be in, speaking on behalf of thousands of students and helping shape conversations around the student experience. 

And honestly? What a privilege that has been. 

Every time I walked into one of those rooms, I carried the voices, concerns, ideas, and experiences of Derby students with me. Whether it was discussing assessment and feedback, student support, academic regulations, or wider university policies, my goal was always simple: make sure students were heard. 

But while representing students has been a huge part of the role, the personal growth that has come with it has been equally significant. This year has pushed me beyond my comfort zone in ways I never expected. It has strengthened my confidence, developed my leadership skills, improved my ability to navigate difficult conversations, and taught me how to advocate effectively for others. 

Yet, if I'm being asked about my favourite part of the role, it isn't the meetings. 

It's the people. 

It's the random corridor conversations in the Atrium. The catch-ups at Blends. The chats in Social Space. The students who stopped me to share an idea, celebrate a success, raise a concern, or simply say ‘hello’. 

It's meeting over 100 Student Representatives and PAL Leaders throughout the year. It's working alongside around 80 student leaders through Student Forum Leaders. It's seeing first-hand the passion students have for making their university experience better, not just for themselves, but for those around them too. 

And what a year it has been. 

We've navigated difficult conversations and moments of uncertainty together. From university redundancies to Students' Union elections misconduct, and from evolving discussions around artificial intelligence and academic misconduct to wider changes across higher education, there were certainly moments when things felt challenging. 

But we survived it all. 

This year, my work has largely been centred around one of our Officer Team priorities: supporting students to grow. 

To bring that vision to life, three initiatives became a major focus of my work: DerbyGist, DerbyUs, and DerbyStars. 

DerbyGist created opportunities for meaningful conversations, where I had the privilege of speaking with professionals and industry experts who shared their career journeys, experiences, and insights, with the aim of helping students navigate their own paths as they prepare to enter the world of work. Across the year, I delivered six conversations in total, including five podcast recordings and one in-person session. (Feel free to check them out on our ‘Union of Students’ YouTube channel if you haven't already!) 

DerbyUs created a space for connection, support, and collaboration between myself and student leaders. I'm proud to have engaged with more than 100 Student Representatives and PAL Leaders, delivering 14 catch-up sessions across disciplines and exceeding our target of 10. These sessions covered all 27 discipline areas, including online and apprenticeship students, and the feedback consistently highlighted how valuable and supportive students found these opportunities. 

And then there was DerbyStars. One of the things I've come to appreciate most this year is the importance of celebrating one another. Through nominations, shout-outs, social media and website features, and recognition activities, DerbyStars helped shine a spotlight on students making a positive difference within our community. We celebrated everything from outstanding contributions to simple acts of kindness, extending recognition to 120 students during Afromusic & Jollof Connect and a further 25 students through my ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ initiative. 

Looking back, I'm proud of the projects, campaigns, meetings, and achievements that have defined this year. But I'm equally grateful for the lessons that came from the challenges, setbacks, and difficult moments along the way. Those experiences have shaped me just as much as the successes. 

What I'll remember most, however, is the people. 

The Student Representatives. The PAL Leaders. The staff. And every student who stopped for a conversation, attended an event, shared feedback, or engaged with me in one way or another. 

Thank you. 

Thank you for trusting me to represent you. Thank you for challenging me to grow. And thank you for making this role such a meaningful and unforgettable experience. 

As this chapter comes to an end, I leave with countless memories, valuable lessons, lifelong friendships, and immense gratitude. 

It's funny to think that a decision made with just ten minutes left on the clock would go on to become one of the most rewarding choices I've ever made. (Perhaps that's your sign to finally take that leap you've been putting off, too.) 

And for that, I will always be thankful.