Being a student president isn’t easy. It’s rewarding, eye-opening, and at times, deeply challenging. Every year, a new group of elected student leaders step into these roles, tasked with representing thousands of students, making change, and navigating a world of institutional meetings, big decisions, and personal growth.

Below, your 2024/25 officers take time to reflect — honestly and openly — on what this journey has meant to them. These are real reflections on the highs and lows, the lessons learned, and the things they wished more students knew.

Jadelle Luckman (President Falmouth)

This past year has been full of collaboration, growth, and real change, and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve achieved together. From relaunching CoLab to connect students with each other through creativity, to working closely with student reps to shape the University Mental Health Charter student submission, it's been incredible seeing the power of collective voices in action. 

Celebrating Black History Month alongside ACS and championing Black culture on campus through events like African drumming workshops and cultural food reminded me how vital representation is in Cornwall. 

Being interviewed by ITV on the cost of living crisis gave me a platform to share student realities, and helped push the conversation forward on how we can offer real support, including initiatives like the hygiene stations I set up on both campuses to ease the burden; allowing students access to free refills of shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, cleaning products, and accessories. 

I’ve worked with Falmouth senior staff to make financial transparency a priority, opening up reports that show where your fees really go. I’ve also helped societies who use AMATA secure better support after a Forum proposal by a student, worked with FX Plus and the university to trial later opening hours for Fox Café, and chaired the Falmouth Student Experience Group to make sure your voices are heard at every level. 

And throughout it all, being present at events like Welcome week, Open Days, and the SU Awards has allowed me to highlight everything The SU is doing, not just behind the scenes, but right in the heart of student life to students starting this year. But it wasn’t just about showing up for these key moments, it was about consistency throughout the year that showcased the importance of the SU’s work.  

This year was about listening, learning, and action, and next year, I’m more energised than ever to keep going. None of this is possible without you! Your opinions, feedback, and calls for change make my role as President Falmouth more meaningful, and exciting, and way more impactful.  So, let’s keep going this year, we need more of that energy over the next academic year! Keep chatting to us, keep throwing your ideas our way, and let’s keep making uni life what you want it to be! 

Connie Chilcott (President Exeter)

I came into this job raging at the university machine, and after 730 days, or 17520 hours, I leave it, tired, and raging at the university machine. From this, it may seem as if I haven't changed at all, as if all the papers, meetings, focus groups, trips, long days, long trains and engaged students hadn't shaped me at all; I am still the same angry student from two years ago, hungry for change and frustrated at bureaucracy. 

Whilst the anger I have is justified, it’s not all consuming. There have been many spaces of collaboration and co-creation, and meetings and trips and interactions creating a great deal of hope for change. An institution as big as the University of Exeter will never be easy to navigate, and I was naive in thinking it would be. But we've fed students, created spaces for accountability in finance and partnerships, shaped university strategy, and empowered student action. 

Sometimes it may feel like it’s all for nothing, but the change you create, and the spaces you occupy are important, something I hadn't fully appreciated before I started here. It’s been hard, times are changing, the world is scary, and the future of higher education is uncertain, one thing is for sure, I may still be angry, but I'm grateful. 

Marketa Carruthers (Vice President)

Being a sabbatical officer has been a very steep learning curve. From navigating relationships with stakeholders to representing the student body in countless meetings including the Disabled Students Commitment where I ensured EDI reps across departments were included in discussions, the Climate and Environmental Crisis board  where I stood up and Falmouth Finance Steering Group where we helped Falmouth publish a transparent and digestible document about Falmouth’s financial information.   

Despite facing all odds and the frustration of trying to implement change in a capitalist society designed for money and growth, progress is possible, it just takes time. For example, following the student led Plant Based Universities campaign, I lobbied the Universities and FX Plus to run a meat free Mondays trial as a stepping stone to transitioning to plant-based catering. Despite the trial being successful and well engaged with one university was hesitant to approve this change, however, what the trial did do is spark conversation around ethical catering and reducing the carbon footprint associated with food on campus. FX Plus has now set up a working group where they will take actionable steps to reducing red meat and improving plant-based options next academic year.  

Sometimes it feels like the obstacles are countless, but even despite the push back I have learned universities are not just a bureaucratic hierarchy – the student voice is the most powerful tool for reshaping the current system. But you will need to shout relentlessly and very loud! I would urge students to engage with the SU and Forum because if you have a driving passion, the SU is here to give you a platform to foreseeing change.   

Thanks to everyone who supported me through this whirlwind of a time! 

Fina Day (Vice President)

Well guys I guess this is goodbye! Coming into this role a year ago I expected to be able to enact radical change, unfortunately I found this was not the case. I have spent the year lobbying the universities on everything from increasing physical accessibility across our campuses, to better supporting international students, to increasing support and provision for trans and non-binary students, and much, much more. But unfortunately in the complex and bureaucratic systems in which we function, my pleas for change have often been met with many barriers. 

Although a lot of this year has been spent figuring out how to navigate the system that is university governance, and feeling frustrated, there have been some exciting things and steps in the right direction. 

The accessibility on campus has been slowly improving, both Exeter and Falmouth now have spaces that are continuously talking about international students and how we can improve their experience, and gender neutral toilets have been added to the considerations of any new builds/ improvements Fxplus plan to implement.  

My biggest pride and success this year has been my ability to not only educate people through my initiatives during SHAG week, but also my ability to platform and support LGBTQ+ students through Sexhibition, with spectrum life vouchers, and by getting an executive proposal passed at forum to ensure the all student representatives going forward will actively support our transgender and non-binary students.  

The world is a horrible place right now, and while we are still in our university bubble it is important that we learn how to effectively stand up for what we believe in. Nothing is going to change unless we all are shouting about it, we need to continuously stand together in order to make change happen.   

It is now in your hands!  

Inspired? Curious? Fired up?

If these reflections have sparked your interest or emotions, there are plenty of ways to help shape student life — whether it’s becoming a rep, attending Forum, submitting an idea for change, or even running in the next presidential elections. 

Explore how you can get involved