Hey!
Here are the statements of intent from all the applicants for next year’s ISC Core Committee. Currently we do not have any applicants for the position of the events coordinator, so, if you are interested in running for the position and think that you have what it takes to be our events coordinator, please send in your statement to iscedi@gmail.com until Wednesday, March 27.
Also, here is the link for the position descriptions:
http://isced.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/isc-agm-elections-position-descriptions.html
President
Thomas Schmidt
My name is Thomas Schmidt and I am running for the position of ISC President 2015/16. Most of you will know me either from having seen me at the lounge, or in my function as Trips-Coordinator for this second semester. I started out as a lounge volunteer last semester and took on a role in support of Adam Michalchuk as the Trips-Coordinator.
In my time in the ISC, but crucially during the second semester, I had a chance to get to know all committee members, their roles and the challenges they face. I had many conversations about the transitions the ISC has undergone and is continuing to undergo as an organization. In my role as the Trips-Coordinator I got intimately acquainted with our finances, the IO and outside bodies.
In the future I plan to further our involvement with the IO, as well as EUSA and the University as a whole. Building on our pre-existing relationships will help improve the student-experience for all visiting Students at Edinburgh.
In addition to improving our inter-connectedness within the University, it is also important to improve our internal communications and inter-departmental relationships. This will allow us to work more efficiently and truly achieve our potential.
Given the role of ISC President in 2015/16 I will continue making the ISC a central part of student life in Edinburgh. Furthermore, I will improve our internal organisation to stream-line our activities. My previous involvement with the with different University bodies, as well as in the ISC make me the best candidate for this role.
Vice President
Jue Theresa Wang (1st Choice)
Hello everyone!
I am Jue Theresa Wang, or short, Resa. Some of you perhaps still know me, I was part of the core committee in the academic year of 2013/2014 as Publicity Secretary and before that, I was part of the trips and the lounge sub-committee. Currently, I am on my industrial placement abroad in Switzerland, therefore I cannot be with you at the elections this year, but still I am running for a committee position from abroad and I hope this statement of intent will show you that I am suitable for being part of the core committee again for the upcoming year.
Let me start with why I want to return to the ISC: a motivational phrase that strongly resonates with me and I associate with the ISC is that you should never underestimate your ability to make someone else’s life better, even if you will never know it. For me, that is mostly the outcome of what the ISC does; yes, we host events and organise trips but the foremost and most powerful impact that we have is we help and connect people. People from all around the world meet in the scenery we set and then leave with whatever they can take from being with us. This might be a piece of advice, memories of an event or trip they have enjoyed, or a new friend - it could be anything. And this beautiful phenomenon is something I strongly want to support. I love being part of this community that encourages personal growth and well-being, and this is also the reason why I have been part of the ISC before.
What can I contribute to the new committee? I bring my previous knowledge from being part of the core committee and sub-committees and I bring my organisational skills from former work experience and from being a resident assistant. I have lots of experience in advertising and organising events, have been part of many teams before, both work-related and in extracurricular activities and there, I have repeatedly proven myself to be a reliable and efficient partner when it comes to getting work done. I am dedicated, very proactive and often get told that I am a very approachable person; one of my strong points is actually to introduce people into a new environment and make them feel at ease and give support, which is why I had the position of a resident assistant before. With all of this, I can definitely be an asset to the new core committee and sub-committees.
How do I want to help the committee this year? The primary position I am running for is the role of the Vice-President. The reason for that is because it is a very dynamic role that provides direct support and ties in with all the sub-committees and also is in direct contact with external organisations, like EUSA, Exchange 360 and other cultural societies. I believe it is important to reach out to people and strengthen collaboration between the individual factions and I also believe that the President will need a good partner when doing this. For me, the Vice-President is not only the deputy of the President but more like the person who they can share their work with, someone they can rely on. I want to be that direct support, but also be the person who generates new ideas and works closely with the sub-committees.
The secondary position I am running for is the role of the Publicity Secretary. Since this was originally my position a year ago, I know what would be asked from me and how to fulfill the tasks of the role. Additionally, I will implement the workflow of the current Publicity Secretary as well as generate new ideas to reach out to more students. I think this role is, after Vice-President, the most suitable for me as I so like to get in touch with people and open new doors to them by showing them the community of the ISC.
In either way, I am hoping to be a part of the new committee and to be given the chance to support the ISC in the upcoming year as much as I can. Thank you for reading this statement and I will see you next year!
General Secretary
Stephanie Bowhuis (1st Choice)
Dearest ISC Members,
My name is Steph Bouwhuis and I am a second year international relations student from Canada. I would like to run for the positions of general secretary and publicity secretary for the 2015/2016 academic year.
I have been involved with the isc since I first came to university two years ago. I started out as a lounge volunteer and this last year I have been on core committee as the house manager. My time on core committee has been a great experience and I am hoping to continue with it into next year. I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as house manager; having a group of students to bake for has given me so much joy over this last year. In the two years I have been in Edinburgh I have realized how important the ISC is for international students – it provides a safe place for everyone and there is always someone willing to help out with any question or need.
I am known to spend a lot of my time at the isc, so I am kept up do date with the goings on. I have immersed myself in all parts of the isc this year – from coordinating ticket sales, volunteering on trips, providing tea, coffee, and biscuits, and assisting with the parties I understand all aspects of what the isc aims to provide.
General Secretary
As secretary I would make sure to be concise when taking minutes during the core committee meetings and forward these minutes to the other core members as soon as possible afterwards to be as efficient as possible. Part of my degree also involves the use of diplomacy so I will be able to communicate with inquiries in a professional manner. I believe my effective time management skills and understanding of the role the ISC plays in the University would make me a suitable candidate for the role of general secretary.
Publicity Secretary
I have spent a lot of my time this year working with the current publicity secretary and through our relationship I have come to understand how important the role of this position is. I feel that I would make a good publicity secretary as I have a clear understanding of what goes on on a day-to-day basis here. I believe that reaching out to students is an integral part of this job and I am passionate about spreading the word of the isc and what we do to all university students. The publicity secretary is a very important role and I am keen on carrying on from the wonderful job the current publicity secretary has done in advertising the isc.
During my time here I have become a passionate advocate of the ISC and would love to be considered as secretary next year. I am committed to the place I consider to be my second home in Edinburgh, and I am dedicated to making the international experience a memorable one for everyone, whether it be for one semester or four years.
Thank you so much!
Steph
Publicity Secretary
Jue Theresa Wang (2nd Choice)
Hello everyone!
I am Jue Theresa Wang, or short, Resa. Some of you perhaps still know me, I was part of the core committee in the academic year of 2013/2014 as Publicity Secretary and before that, I was part of the trips and the lounge sub-committee. Currently, I am on my industrial placement abroad in Switzerland, therefore I cannot be with you at the elections this year, but still I am running for a committee position from abroad and I hope this statement of intent will show you that I am suitable for being part of the core committee again for the upcoming year.
Let me start with why I want to return to the ISC: a motivational phrase that strongly resonates with me and I associate with the ISC is that you should never underestimate your ability to make someone else’s life better, even if you will never know it. For me, that is mostly the outcome of what the ISC does; yes, we host events and organise trips but the foremost and most powerful impact that we have is we help and connect people. People from all around the world meet in the scenery we set and then leave with whatever they can take from being with us. This might be a piece of advice, memories of an event or trip they have enjoyed, or a new friend - it could be anything. And this beautiful phenomenon is something I strongly want to support. I love being part of this community that encourages personal growth and well-being, and this is also the reason why I have been part of the ISC before.
What can I contribute to the new committee? I bring my previous knowledge from being part of the core committee and sub-committees and I bring my organisational skills from former work experience and from being a resident assistant. I have lots of experience in advertising and organising events, have been part of many teams before, both work-related and in extracurricular activities and there, I have repeatedly proven myself to be a reliable and efficient partner when it comes to getting work done. I am dedicated, very proactive and often get told that I am a very approachable person; one of my strong points is actually to introduce people into a new environment and make them feel at ease and give support, which is why I had the position of a resident assistant before. With all of this, I can definitely be an asset to the new core committee and sub-committees.
How do I want to help the committee this year? The primary position I am running for is the role of the Vice-President. The reason for that is because it is a very dynamic role that provides direct support and ties in with all the sub-committees and also is in direct contact with external organisations, like EUSA, Exchange 360 and other cultural societies. I believe it is important to reach out to people and strengthen collaboration between the individual factions and I also believe that the President will need a good partner when doing this. For me, the Vice-President is not only the deputy of the President but more like the person who they can share their work with, someone they can rely on. I want to be that direct support, but also be the person who generates new ideas and works closely with the sub-committees.
The secondary position I am running for is the role of the Publicity Secretary. Since this was originally my position a year ago, I know what would be asked from me and how to fulfill the tasks of the role. Additionally, I will implement the workflow of the current Publicity Secretary as well as generate new ideas to reach out to more students. I think this role is, after Vice-President, the most suitable for me as I so like to get in touch with people and open new doors to them by showing them the community of the ISC.
In either way, I am hoping to be a part of the new committee and to be given the chance to support the ISC in the upcoming year as much as I can. Thank you for reading this statement and I will see you next year!
Stephanie Bowhuis (2nd Choice)
Dearest ISC Members,
My name is Steph Bouwhuis and I am a second year international relations student from Canada. I would like to run for the positions of general secretary and publicity secretary for the 2015/2016 academic year.
I have been involved with the isc since I first came to university two years ago. I started out as a lounge volunteer and this last year I have been on core committee as the house manager. My time on core committee has been a great experience and I am hoping to continue with it into next year. I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as house manager; having a group of students to bake for has given me so much joy over this last year. In the two years I have been in Edinburgh I have realized how important the ISC is for international students – it provides a safe place for everyone and there is always someone willing to help out with any question or need.
I am known to spend a lot of my time at the isc, so I am kept up do date with the goings on. I have immersed myself in all parts of the isc this year – from coordinating ticket sales, volunteering on trips, providing tea, coffee, and biscuits, and assisting with the parties I understand all aspects of what the isc aims to provide.
General Secretary
As secretary I would make sure to be concise when taking minutes during the core committee meetings and forward these minutes to the other core members as soon as possible afterwards to be as efficient as possible. Part of my degree also involves the use of diplomacy so I will be able to communicate with inquiries in a professional manner. I believe my effective time management skills and understanding of the role the ISC plays in the University would make me a suitable candidate for the role of general secretary.
Publicity Secretary
I have spent a lot of my time this year working with the current publicity secretary and through our relationship I have come to understand how important the role of this position is. I feel that I would make a good publicity secretary as I have a clear understanding of what goes on on a day-to-day basis here. I believe that reaching out to students is an integral part of this job and I am passionate about spreading the word of the isc and what we do to all university students. The publicity secretary is a very important role and I am keen on carrying on from the wonderful job the current publicity secretary has done in advertising the isc.
During my time here I have become a passionate advocate of the ISC and would love to be considered as secretary next year. I am committed to the place I consider to be my second home in Edinburgh, and I am dedicated to making the international experience a memorable one for everyone, whether it be for one semester or four years.
Thank you so much!
Steph
Trips Coordinator
Ivana Cernanova
My name is Ivana Cernanova and I am currently finishing my undergraduate degree of French and History, ready to continue next year on an MSc in Renaissance and Early Modern Studies in the Edinburgh College of Art. I would like to take on the challenge and run for the position of ISC Trips Coordinator.
Ever since my arrival in Edinburgh, the ISC has become an important part of my university life, providing me, above all, with the chance to discover Scotland and to learn more about its culture and history. In my first and second year, I attended a number of the trips run by the ISC. After having spent my third year on Erasmus exchange at the Aix-Marseille University in France, where there was no well-organised equivalent of the ISC, I greatly appreciate the existence and smooth running of the group. Therefore, upon my return, I decided to get involved as a trips volunteer because I wanted to improve the experience of international students in Scotland. Throughout this year, I assisted with the organisation of a number of different trips, including smaller ones to Melrose Abbey, North Berwick or the island of Lindisfarne as well as the weekend trip to the Isle of Skye. I was involved in various stages of the organisational process, ranging from initial planning and liaising with Historic Scotland and National Trust to book group visits of monuments to preparing flyers and running tickets sales as well as acting as a guide on the trip itself.
I am very passionate about travelling. Apart from Scotland, I have previously lived in Canada and France, and each time my top priority was to explore and learn as much as possible about the country. As part of my studies and my work experience I have acquired good organisational skills, attention to detail and time management. I am very responsible and reliable, so I have often been put in charge, for example while working as an English tutor in a language school or while acting as the editor-in-chief of the school magazine at my high school in Slovakia. Alongside the ISC, my involvement in TANDEM and the Buddies programme as well as my experience working as a Freshers’ Helper in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures gave me the opportunity to liaise with Freshers and visiting students at the university and engage in cultural exchanges, while gaining valuable communication and organisational skills.
I believe the ISC trips provide an affordable and convenient way for international students to discover what Scotland has to offer. Therefore, I am committed to keep improving how the trips are run to ensure that the students are content and feel like they have had an experience worth their time and money. Although, as a history student, I have a genuine passion for all historical monuments, and especially castles, I recognize the need for a diversity of trips offered and, if elected, I intend to continue in the trend of organizing more active trips, involving hiking and visits of natural parks. I want to make sure that students are provided with more detailed itineraries beforehand, especially in case of the weekend trips, and that the semester schedule is advertised as soon as possible, allowing students to plan ahead. In addition, I would like to gather feedback from students attending the trips on a regular basis to be able to identify and address any problems or queries they might have. I also want to ensure a smooth running of the trips committee and encourage greater cooperation among its members through more regular meetings and socialising.
Overall, I am convinced that my previous experience with the ISC as well as my excellent organisational and communication skills make me an ideal candidate for the position and that I would be a valuable addition to the ISC committee.
Events Coordinator
Rebecca Spross
Hello, my name is Rebecca and I am a first year American student studying International Relations. I am applying for the position of Events Coordinator.
Attending university abroad was a daunting yet exciting experience for me. It also happens that I spent a year on an exchange in Germany during secondary school, so coming to and living in a place that is completely foreign is not entirely new to me. Being far away from home, I sometimes felt lost and wished for a way to meet other students with a similar disposition and similar interests, and also for a way to immerse myself in that culture. That is why I feel that the ISC is an excellent source of community for international students and I wish to expand the opportunities of the institution to other students in the same place.
As I finish up my first year here, I look back and am truly happy I decided to take the opportunity to come to such a lovely city and university. If I had one complaint, it’s that I always heard about opportunities and events going on after they had already happened, sometimes feeling like I had missed out. Being the events coordinator I will make sure that there are opportunities for students to get together on a weekly basis and give them the best experience in Edinburgh as possible, ensuring that the events are well catered to all students so that they don’t feel like they’ve missed any opportunities. I would characterise myself as an organised and reliable person; and when I have a job to get done I will try my best to fulfil it, even if challenges arise. I am also a very compromising person who always listen to the input of others and take everyone’s thoughts into account.
I want every international student or exchange student to receive the best experience possible in Edinburgh and to always feel welcomed and involved. And that’s why I am running for Events coordinator.
I am looking forward to what is to come next year, thank you!!
Social Coordinator
Julie Simond
My name is Julie, I am a first year student and I am running for Social Coordinator 2015-2016. The International Student Centre is a place that has become very dear to me, and I would love to be involved as a member of the Core Committee.
I know what it's like to be a new student. It's pretty awful and scary but once I found the ISC it gave me a place to relax, allowing me to socialise well. I will work hard to keep the ISC going as a place that is welcoming, friendly, genuine and open to all. I enjoy the atmosphere created in the ISC Lounge so far and will work towards keeping it as a fun place for all to come to. It is also important to recognise that the Lounge is a balanced place, where certain people can come to do work, and I will endeavour to make sure this is always a possibility.
I believe I am a good fit for the role of Social Coordinator because I am very well organised. This will aid me in performing the job well in terms of scheduling and keeping track of volunteers. I am also a very sociable person and I really enjoy meeting new people. Furthermore, having grown up all over the world, I am very understanding of different cultures and enjoy meeting new people from all different places. I will recruit enough volunteers to make sure all the time slots are filled and ensure that there are always people in the ISC to be friendly and answer any questions. Overall, I have a very good understanding of what will be expected of me, as I have spent time with the current Social Coordinator, Jois, and seen first-hand the inner workings behind what the role entails.
Furthermore, I will organise a lot of socials in order to foster strong bonds between volunteers and with the Core Committee as well. I will ensure that volunteers from all of the categories, Trips, Lounge and Events, are encouraged to attend. The volunteers parties that I have attended this year have been amazing and I will gladly accept the torch if it is passed to me, continuing on the tradition of epic gatherings.
Finally, I can only say that I am a person who believes that once you sign up for something, you commit to it, and I can guarantee that if I am voted into this position, I will work my hardest to go above and beyond the call of duty.
Thank you for your consideration,
Julie Simond
Treasurer
Fanny Franov
My name is Fanny Franov, I’m a third year Economics and Politics student and I’m running for ISC treasurer. I am rather new to the ISC but I have already, through friends in the committee and members alike, gotten well-acquainted with the day-to-day functioning, as well as larger organizational projects, and with my background in IB higher level mathematics and Economics here at Edinburgh I feel well equipped to take on the responsibilities that the role of treasurer brings. I am further acquainted with accounting and bookkeeping tasks through my employment at an SME back in Sweden and I wish to use this experience to make the ISC a more transparent and efficiently run society, with more money for trips, events and all the things that bring the community together.
House Manager
Lindsey Nkem
I am applying to be the next house manager of the International Student Centre for the year 2015 - 2016.
The ISC has quickly become a major part of my first year at university. This year I was a lounge volunteer, which gave me the opportunity to work with both the lounge coordinator and house manager in order to ensure that things run smoothly here. Over time, I have come to understand the responsibilities of the house manager and I believe I will be able to fulfill this role quite well.
I have past managerial and organizational experience in various fast-paced settings such as a program coordinator for the Seminar on the United Nations and International Affairs, a Junior Commissioner, and a youth city counsellor. With all this experience, I feel like I am able to maintain a really chill vibe that I have been told by many is a great addition to the ISC atmosphere. In other words, I would be able to get things done in order to keep the ISC running smoothly while ensuring that it remains a fun place for all who may enter.
On snacks: I will provide good ones.
I am really looking forwards to remaining involved in the ISC for the remainder of my time at university. House manager would be a good fit for me and in this position I will do my utmost to ensure that next September will be the start of a really good year for the International Student Centre. The sense of community facilitated by this place has given me a lot, and I am more than willing to be a part of core-com in order to maintain this place as a great space for others.
Cheers,
Lindsey Nkem
