Hi, my name is Simran. I am the student chair for Philosophy, and I would like to share a glimpse of my busy day in this role.

On the 22nd of November, I chaired my first SSLC meeting. It was my first time leading a meeting, and I hadn't even served as a Student Rep before this. I was thrown into the deep end by having to lead a meeting with professors in my department. However, it was not as nerve-racking as it sounds.

The day began with my commute to King’s as I live at home, which took a little over an hour. During this journey, I felt quite nervous. Although I've done public speaking in the past, I still get jittery right before my ‘performance’. I was going over the agenda that was prepared by me and the other Student Chair, practicing what to say, when to say it, and how to say it, as you can tell, I am a bit of a perfectionist.

Upon entering the room, I took a seat at the front alongside the other Student Chair and proceeded to introduce myself to the gathering of professors and fellow Student Reps. After a final review of the data we had collected for the meeting, I gradually began to feel more at ease. As we delved into discussions about assessment methods, attendance rates, and the potential introduction of a workshop for philosophy students, I found myself in a moment where I couldn’t stop speaking; it came to me naturally, and I knew exactly what I wanted to say and how to express it.

Towards the end of the meeting, as I reflected on how it went, I realised that I hadn't asked for an introduction from everyone. I addressed this realisation with the few members still present in the room, ensuring that, for the next meeting, everyone would be familiar with each other. Following the meeting, one of the Postgraduate Student Reps approached me to discuss some ideas for student initiatives without involving professors. We decided to organize a workshop, which is now in progress and hopefully will be a practical endeavor that I, as a Student Rep/SSLC Student Chair, can undertake to assist other philosophy students.

For those aspiring to become Student Reps, here are a couple of tips:

1. Start Your Research Early: Initiate your feedback research as soon as possible. This ensures you have relevant points to discuss in the SSLC meeting that genuinely reflect the student body's thoughts.

2. Be Prepared: Anticipate what you'll say during the meeting to alleviate nerves. Preparation is key to delivering your points confidently.

3. Build Connections: Use this opportunity to make friends and expand your network. I, for instance, have developed a strong friendship with the other Philosophy Student Chair. Collaborating with fellow reps in your department can enhance your effectiveness.

In my experience as a Student Rep and a Student Chair, I've found the role fulfilling. Perhaps, I can inspire some of you to also find enjoyment in contributing to King's improvement for the student body.