This year's Leadership Race is just around the corner and your Students' Union is looking for passionate individuals to become student officers and make the university a better place. To help prospective candidates we spoke to current officer Ash Holland who explained his own motivations for running and provided some sound advice for those thinking about taking the first step.
"When I see the Leadership Race, I feel a great warmth inside me. There was such excitement and energy: it was a great experience," Ash said.
"When I was nominated I thought I can develop the attributes which people had seen in me, become a leader and become better. So the Leadership Race really pushed me forward."
Ash explained that he had a lot of people experience, having worked with his basketball committee. But his main reason for running was "the pride of being part of Staffs and what they had given to me".
"I'd come from a different university, I'd moved around quite a bit, but when I came to Staffs it really became my home," he said.
"I wasn't the best achiever while I was at Sheffield Hallam, I can admit that, but when I came to Staffs the teachers and the whole experience helped me to step up. Instead of getting 2.2s and 3rds I became a first class candidate. I realised I can be better. After all this I thought it was my time to give back to Staffs, I want to make the experience I'd had even better for future students."
Ash admitted that he never thought about running in the Leadership Race and being an officer, adding: "I didn't run to be part of a popularity contest I ran to help lead the university in the right manner and the right way. On my CV I always said that I wanted to help a lot of people and I realised that this opportunity, so early on in my life, can impact people's entire lives."
As a successful candidate at the last election, we asked Ash for some tips for anyone reading this and thinking of running in the Leadership Race 2016.
"The top tip I would give to anyone thinking of running is to remember that you're doing this for the people you know and the problems you want to solve," Ash explained. "Stick to those reasons and if it's great enough people will vote for you. Don't give up and if you're fighting the big, real issues people will come out and support you.
"Passion and belief; if you've got them, you'll get there."
Not knowing a lot of people is also not a problem, Ash said, as the process will mean you make lots of new friends anyway.
"When you become a candidate you go out on campus and speak to students about the problems they've got. Even if it's a Wednesday evening, it doesn't matter, there's always people to talk to and votes to be gained."
One of the best decisions Ash made whilst running was speaking to the previous officer team and drawing from their experience. As they have all gone through the process and been successful, they all have learnt so much that they would be happy to share, so please do pop in to speak to any of them or grab them if you see them around campus.
A touch of humility comes across Ash as the interview comes to an end as he reflects on his skills before the role, admitting that the role has made him and the rest of his team far more employable and much more well-rounded individuals.
"Before you enter, you might think you've got the whole package, but believe me, six months down the line you're a much better person. I thought I've done organising, I've done event planning, I've done time management, I'm sorted, but what you get from being an officer really helps you to be so broad-minded. I couldn't imagine going to any job and getting the same experience.
"There's loads of great reasons to run in the Race, I could probably talk for ages. If anyone wants to talk to me about it, come and find me!"
With that in mind, feel free to contact any of the team and they're sure to help you become the best candidate you can possibly be. Contact emails and telephone numbers can be found here:
https://www.staffsunion.com/union/officers/ .