About me:

Hey guys!!😊 My name is Zoe; I am a second year Biochemistry and Neuroscience student, and I will be rerunning for position of Wellbeing Officer for 25/26. I’m deeply passionate about health and fitness, with a particular emphasis on powerlifting and nutrition, but I also love bouldering and hiking in nature.

Why vote for me?

First and foremost, the most important aspect of this job, as for any officer role, is that students continue to have their voices heard. I am dedicated to ensuring no one feels intimidated to come into the office to voice their concerns, and that they leave having felt heard and listened to. I’d like to think of myself as an approachable person!

As someone who is openly neurodivergent, I can resonate with the challenges posed by an education system that lacks the appropriate accommodations and support for students with higher support needs. I understand how University life, even for neurotypical individuals, can amplify social challenges, and I can empathise with those trying to navigate a world that simply was not made for them. Accessibility and ensuring an equitable environment, whether physical or mental, is high on my priorities list as an Officer for next year.

From personal experience, I am a strong advocate for women in sports and the immense effects this has on women’s health. Last year I was also a Movember ambassador who helped to raise over £4000 for men’s health across the University. I like to emphasise the importance of mental health support for everyone, regardless of gender or background. I also strongly stand for the more “social prescribing” approach and looking into preventative measures, treating someone like a human before a medical case study.

Loneliness can be a prevalent issue at Keele, especially on campus, so I would like to see more non-alcoholic, friendly events to bring people together within the SU and wider University.

Transport is something I am equally as passionate about. Too often I have fallen victim, like many other students, to the buses failing to get me onto campus and it is simply not good enough. Whether this was from poorly timed roadworks, buses travelling past because they are at too high capacity, buses not showing up when they’re supposed to or being fined £60 for not having my Keele card, I identify strongly with the frustrations from students on this issue.

What makes you a good fit for the role?

Two things: I love talking to students and I completely and utterly thrive when I am busy.

For example, in my second year and alongside my studies, I tackled many responsibilities at once. I worked as a Casual Centre Assistant at the Sports Centre, completed my Level 2 and 3 Personal Trainer courses, served as Boat Club Secretary, and hit the gym five times a week. While this provided me with the ability to juggle lots of things at the same time, I would say the most valuable takeaway was the opportunity to meet and connect with different people from all backgrounds and walks of life. I absolutely adore the people I have met doing these jobs and wouldn’t change it for the world.

Over the past three years I have volunteered in a CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) involvement group as a former patient, interviewing various professionals for different job roles within my local CAMHS service. By sharing my personal experiences, I hope to have improved the service, even in a small way, for future users. As a result of my experiences in this sector, I have a further understanding, empathy and passion for what works and what does not within a mental health system.

Finally, I hold myself to a very high and disciplined standard with everything I do. As just one example, I have dedicated 3 years of consistent training to the gym and in the past year specialised into coached powerlifting. The same energy is applied to everything I do and I am very passionate in maintaining this.

If you have read this far, thank you, and happy voting. May the best candidate win!