- What are the differences between being a social secretary alone, and having multiple social secretaries?
Ella: I have loved being a part of a pair when it comes to planning social events. It allows us to bounce ideas off of one another, which has helped us to plan very inclusive events. It also means that the load is shared between both of us and we have more freedom to do other events. Not only this but it’s also fun for us to get to know our members together and be able to have fun with each other and our members on the socials that we’ve planned.
Madina: I had lots of fun having to plan events from scratch, it is something that I want to do as my career (please, call me if you want me to organise birthdays/weddings/gigs). I wish I had what Ophelia and Ella have this year! They have so many cool ideas and it’s just great seeing their creativity be put to organise really unique and fun events!
Ophelia: I think having two social secretaries has had a huge impact on society, especially the growth of it. Obviously, all the former social secretaries did amazing jobs organising everything themselves. Still, I think having two people share the ‘workload’ has given us way more time to plan socials far in advance, taking turns contacting venues and other societies, and also just having the opportunity to come up with ideas together. Also, the more committee roles available, the better!
- Why are female-only spaces so important, especially in the field of journalism?
Ella: Female-only spaces are so important, especially during University. Her Campus is such a welcoming space for women to create lovely bonds with one another and make lasting friendships. Every time I’ve been out with Her Campus on socials, even before I was social secretary, I have always felt safe and comfortable in the environment. I definitely think Her Campus is a great society for women to join at the University to write about what they want, as well as to find new friends.
Madina: Her Campus women-only events are so important as you get to meet so many cool and creative people. You get to discuss ideas in a safe and supportive environment. I felt super safe when I went out with the girls from Her Campus as they always made sure to look out for me.
Ophelia: Sometimes in the professional world, keeping the work aside, everything can appear to be male-dominated, and female-dominated spaces are hard to come by. In order to combat that, you sometimes have to take matters into your own hands and resolve your issues. Her Campus being a female-only space means that not only does it feel incredibly safe and uplifting, but it also encourages women to take part in a strong, creative, female community that opens doors to the fields of media and journalism.
I also think that being female-only, our night-time socials have always felt so incredibly safe and secure, as we are all always looking out for each other.
- What are your favourite Her Campus socials? – including those you’ve attended and those you’ve organised.
Ella: My favourite social was the Halloween Party that was hosted at my house. The turnout was amazing, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. We had planned lots of games and dancing. It was so fun as it was intimate and everyone got to mingle with one another. From the previous years, I really enjoyed the bottomless brunch as it was something new that we did. It was so great to be able to have a meal and (quite) a few drinks together.
Madina: I think my favourite social that I organised was the bottomless brunch! It was just super wholesome and I got to eat at the event. Honestly, any event with food is immediately amazing. And for the event that I attended, the bowling social. I love chill non-drinking socials a lot and also to get a little competitive.
Ophelia: I really loved attending the media ball last year, it was such a fantastic experience to see so many media societies come together and have fun, especially as someone who isn’t a media student. But I would have to say that my favourite ‘social’ was actually at my house before we went off to Bobby’s Disco on Halloween. I’m not usually the type of person to prefer the pres to the actual night out, but I was converted that day! It was only a few of us, but we played loads of fun games, we were all dressed up and had so much fun. My favourite social that I took part in organising must be the Revs Bottomless Brunch. It’s safe to say I lost the battle to the 2-4-1 cocktails that day, but it was genuinely such a fun day and we had so many members attend and get to know each other. That’s what I love the most about our socials; people make lasting connections and friendships through Her Campus, which is sometimes hard to come by at the university.
- Can you balance being a social secretary and being a student?
Ella: I think to be a social secretary you have to be an organised individual, but it is definitely doable to balance the role with the University. It’s so easy to get distracted by planning all the socials and making sure every detail is right, but you have to remember that University is your priority.
Madina: I think last year with all the stress of my dissertation I found being a social secretary to be an escape from my academic responsibilities. I really loved my role, however, I think it’s important to find a balance and remember not to oversubscribe yourself. It’s something I’m working on this year trying to focus on fewer projects!
Ophelia: It requires some dedication and planning, for sure. As much as you want to, you can’t overexert yourself to get everything ‘perfect’, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up one to be better at the other. I think having more than one social secretary has helped immensely, but it’s still sometimes a struggle to balance everything all at once. I think the one thing I would tell myself is to remember that the rest of the committee is there to help you and that sometimes it’s okay to prioritise certain things over others.
- How does one navigate working in a group all the time?
Ella: I have enjoyed working in a team, I think it’s been nice knowing that if I do need help or I do need to take some time off, someone is there for me. It has been such a fun experience to work with people who have now become my friends and also to get to work in a society we all love.
Madina: I think it’s important to be patient. As an impatient person, I tend to rush things or try to sort out everything quickly. But that’s not how everyone works. It’s important to remember that we are students and we have a lot of things going on, apart from studies. It is always good to remember that the group is there to support you and it’s important to reach out when you need help or advice!
Ophelia: Overall, it’s a great learning experience. As someone who has always preferred solo projects and working on my own, it’s been nice to be part of a team. As Madina said, there are times when you have to compromise and be patient, but that’s just part of the job. As long as people are dedicated and involved, working with a committee is a really fun experience, and it’s without a doubt, it’s one you won’t forget!