Third-year BA (Hons) Performing Arts (Film, TV and Stage) student Eliza Gent is Executive Officer for Women with Bucks Students' Union and in the week of International Women’s Day, speaks about her role.

“You can’t sit around and wait for change to happen, you have to make change happen.”

 

How did you become Women's Officer?

In March 2018 I decided to run in the Bucks Students' Union elections. This was such a big deal to me because I’ve always tried to stay, I suppose unnoticed.

As election deadlines got closer, I began to realise I could potentially have a platform where I could make a difference and create positive change. I knew that if I was to walk away from an opportunity like that then I would have always wondered who I could’ve helped and what I could’ve achieved.

I spent days trying to convince myself to run in the elections, hoping to find some faith in myself I didn’t realise I had. Usually when I have no idea what to do, I will call my family and they will always know the answer. So, I did. And here I am.

They reminded me that you can’t sit around and wait for change to happen, you have to make change happen and I suppose that was exactly what I needed to hear as it fuelled me to run.

As well as running for Executive Officer for Women, I also ran for NUS Delegate and after weeks of campaigning I found out on results night that I had been elected both Executive Officer for Women and NUS Delegate.

What does the role involve?

The role involves attending key meetings, helping to make important decisions, creating campaigns and attending the NUS Women Students' Conference.

What kind of initiatives have you been involved in and what are you doing for the rest of the year?

Last year I co-hosted International Women’s Day at Bucks which was incredible as I got to spend an entire day encouraging others to take part in such an important and vital event, and I am extremely excited for some of the plans that myself and the team have for this year.

I have also been incredibly lucky to have attended the NUS Women Students' Conference in 2018 where I learnt more than I could’ve imagined. I was able to sit in a room full of some of the most exceptional and inspiring women and the entire experience changed me. To be surrounded by women who aspire to make the world a better place was simply wonderful, and I am so proud that I got to be a part of that conference.

This role has given me many opportunities and has introduced me to some fantastic people who have not only educated me but have helped me grow. My time in this role will be over soon and I will be sad to have to move on from it but it has also given me the confidence I need to move on to something bigger and I couldn’t be more grateful.

How long have you been Women's Officer?

I have been Women’s Officer for just under a year now. It won’t be long until another Women’s Officer is elected. I have loved this role very much and I wish the best of luck for whoever is elected next.

How satisfying do you find the role?

Extremely! I have enjoyed every second of it and it has taught me so much. I would encourage anyone who is tempted to run in the elections to take that leap and do it.

When I leave Bucks, I will be a much better person than who I was when I started and being the Women’s Officer has played a huge role in that.

Whatever I next go on to do I know I will do my best to make the world a better place, to make positive change, and to make the most of the platforms I have worked hard to stand on.