Written by Kirralee Towers
As a first-year student, I found myself wanting the real university experience I kept seeing on my Facebook and Instagram feeds. You know the type of posts, large groups of friends hanging out, cramming for exams. But as an online student, I thought it wasn’t really possible. I spent the first half of my first year feeling pretty isolated and alone. I tried connecting with people during lectures and tutorials, but we quickly forgot about each other by the time mid-session break rolled around.
It wasn’t until I saw an ad whilst mindlessly doom scrolling through my Facebook one day; “Join your SRC”. As a mature student, it had been a while since I had heard that term. Thinking back to my high school days, I remember the SRC being a student body that really cared about their fellow peers and it was a great way to learn new skills and make new friends. With those fond memories in mind, I applied. To my surprise, I was voted in!
As apprehensive as I was in my first meeting, my fellow committee members put me ease. Before I knew it, I was helping to plan events, approving scholarships and voting on things that would genuinely make a difference in the online student experience. We were studying a variety of degrees, but we all had the same drive and passion to help out our fellow peers. Fast forward to today, I am happy to say that I have worked my way up the ranks to become the President.
Through meetings, conferences and symposiums, the Online SRC has given me so many opportunities to develop skills I didn’t even think I needed. I have to credit my time of being on the SRC to meeting lifelong friends and my boyfriend whom I would never had met if I would have never applied.
I have thoroughly enjoyed engaging with all level of staff members (including the Vice Chancellor), representing the best interests of the often most overlooked cohort. I have developed invaluable skills, gained SO much confidence and have made some amazing memories. Without a doubt, the Online SRC has truly impacted my present and my future to which I am very thankful. All I can say now is:
Bring on 2026!
Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative.
