Tell us a bit about yourself, your role and your time at Exeter
Hiya! I'm Seb, your Education officer for the 2024/25 academic year. Before starting the role, I studied Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. In my spare time, I was involved in politics as the Treasurer of the Labour Society and some campaigns with Oxfam.
But what do I actually do? Great question! My role consists primarily of lobbying the University on your behalf and ensuring the system remembers its most important member, students! Whether that be mitigation, widening participation, or any issues concerning your standard of learning, that's all me! You'll likely see me on campus crawling from meeting to meeting, but I will also be working closely with any of you who become Department Officers and Academic Reps, so looking forward to getting to know you all!
Favourite spot in Exeter (or on campus)
The Old Firehouse! I mean, come on, how can you go wrong with booze and a slice of the best pizza in town! Plus, it's open late!
If you could recommend one thing the Students’ Guild offers for students to get involved in, what would it be?
Duh, the societies! From lifelong friends to networking opportunities, they really help you settle into university life! They let you meet hundreds of different people from all over the country and really help you understand what Exeter is all about!
Top study tip?
Take your time and figure out what works! No one person is the same, so different things work for different people. Personally, I struggle to work for long, extended periods of time, so I use the Pomodoro technique, and that helps a ton!
What’s one thing at uni you couldn’t live without?
Well, it's less a thing but more the people! What makes Exeter enjoyable is the people and communities that really make the city and uni thrive. I tell you, once you're involved, you never wanna leave! (Please help some of us have been here for years!)
What’s your perfect day in Exeter?
As a massive football fan, there is nothing better than a game at our humble yet mighty St James’ Park! We might not be kicking about it in the Prem, but Exeter City games are a rollercoaster ride every time!
What’s one piece of advice you would give to students?
It's time for a bit of a cliche line, but seriously, try to make the most of your time here and don't rush into things. At the end of the day, you're here for 3 years, not a month. You won't get everything right at the start, and that's just fine!
Why did you decide to campaign to be an officer?
So, as you will learn throughout your time here, education policy really is my thing! The quality of education we receive has a monumental impact on the kind of people we become and the opportunities that are open to us throughout our lives. Yet the reality is only some of these things are always equal and fair, and the university sometimes needs to remember the most important (in case you haven't realized that's us!). My predecessor, Alex, had done some incredible work in the role, and having heard so much about it, I could not stop myself from taking part and helping deliver a better system for us all!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
As boring as it makes me sound, I am a real sucker for a good book... Whether that be some thick political theory or a new piece of fiction, I have probably read it. So, if you can, for your own safety, don't pull me into a discussion about it!
