So long, farewell, aufedersein, goodbye

Last night marked the end of another exec year. As the 6 exec officers gathered in the terrace to say farewell to staff and students we remarked on all that we've done, achieved and enjoyed in what has a amazing experience as LUU's executive team 07/08.

Being an officer gave us the opportunity to represent our members concerns and champion their causes. Both the staff and our student volunteers made our campaigns and actions blossom from simple ideas to tangible realities. Being the voice of 30,000 people was daunting at first, but the level of responsibility and influence we have held has been a truly exhilarating experience.
Don't get me wrong not every moment has been blissful. Working sometimes seven day weeks and soldiering on late into the evenings takes it's toll.

I suppose the purpose of me writing this blog was to give our members some sense of what life as a exec officer has been like. This blog has only become available at the end of our year but I'm sure our successors will use it to show you what their up to and what the officer role is really like.

Being a exec officer is an incredible life altering opportunity. It's not easy work and its certainly not easy money but none of that matters when you finally see a issue you've been fighting for change, a campaign start to take effect. It's lovely to know there are students whose lives are better off as a result of our efforts.

Of course I also walk away with regrets - what if I had done this, or a sense of guilt for not being able to achieve that. A year is a incredibly short time and whilst I may have tried to take on many educational problems at Leeds, its simply not possible to solve them all in one year. Succeeding me is Danial Adilypour. Danny will be a great asset to LUU and I'm so happy to be leaving this important work in his hands.

So now that I'm about to depart I'd also like to leave some lasting lines of wisdom for LUU's membership:

• Members scrutinise and test the exec. I didn't feel the exec got enough people holding us to account for the actions we took this year. Union Council is supposed to provide this function but too often it ignores this crucial responsibility. We are a multi million pound organisation and 6 people speak and lobby the University and key stakeholders on your behalf. You should know what they are doing and don't be afraid to give them a testing time.



• Get Involved. OK so three years may look like a long time when your in first year but before you know it the time has disappeared and your ordering your graduation gowns. In a world where more and more people are graduating with firsts and 2:1's you need to really push yourself into new opportunities and experiences not least to distinguish yourself from the thousands of other graduates applying for jobs. But more importantly you should get involved and try new things because only through challenging yourself will you truly develop, sod it your guaranteed to meet fab new people and have a good time, which is the best reason of all.

Thanks to all those that have supported and helped me this year. I'm off to the NUS as a part time member of the national executive committee. All that's left to do is to wish the exec team 08/09 the best of luck, and I hope they have as much fun as we did.

Susan Nash
Education Officer 07/08
Leeds University Union