Be an MDXSU Buddy!
Be an MDXSU Buddy!
By Jennifer Igiri – POW Magazine – Journalist of the year 2014/15
Do you remember your first day of uni? Were you scared? Excited? Nervous?
Would it have been less daunting for you if you had known beforehand that someone would be ready to welcome you and be there if you need them throughout that crucial ‘settling in period’? Are YOU willing to be that person for someone else?
Every first year student that comes to uni is experiencing something new – and that often translates into nerves. As second, third, fourth (etc) years, or postgraduates, we know what it’s like to go through this. Whether we want to admit it or not, we were all a little bit concerned about making friends and feeling part of uni life. The thing to remember is that some of the freshers are not only coming to a different environment of independent learning, they are coming to a new city or even another country. Mix in the fact that some of them will be living away from home for the first time and you’ve created a completely unfamiliar experience.
So what can we do to make Freshers Season a little less nerve wracking and a little more like that ‘welcome home’ community feeling? Here’s what the Students’ Union are proposing: as of the next academic year, they will be introducing the ‘Buddy Programme’. This will be a volunteering role that matches up current students with first years - for the duration of Freshers Week and the first month of term. If enough Buddies get signed up there’s a chance that you’ll be matched up with students from your school – so you’ll already have lots in common. It will be an opportunity to ‘show them the ropes’ and spill all the key secrets that you’ve learned throughout your time as a student.
THE ROLE
Buddies will be there for everything outside of the classroom, being a sort of ‘social guide to uni life’ – if you like that title. You’ll be assigned to four freshers, and you’ll essentially be a point of contact and a familiar face, helping them to settle into uni life with friendship, support and communication. Just think of the difference you could make to those students’ experiences at Middlesex if you choose to volunteer!
(As a Buddy you’ll also receive a free and snazzy t-shirt so that first years can easily identify you.)
THE COMMITMENT
During Freshers Week you’ll be needed at 2 to 3 events so that you can meet and engage with your students, and then for the next month after that you’ll be in your role for an hour a week. (Don’t tell me you can’t spare that – just invite your freshers round to watch Netflix or Amazon Prime with you and the hour will fly by!)
Apart from the fixed Freshers events, the times that you meet your students will be completely flexible – so it can easily fit around your studies and any other commitments you have.
THE TRAINING
There will be compulsory training from MDXSU Wellbeing Staff, on either 15th or 17th September, which should last about 2-3 hours long.
You’ll also have the opportunity to go on the MDXSU Residential! This is completely optional and is not essential to the Buddy role, but it’s well worth going – I can confirm that last year’s residential was AMAZING.
(To find out more details contact studentadvice@mdx.ac.uk.)
I think it’s great to be able to offer a friendly face and a little bit of insider knowledge to a handful of people. As well as getting to meet new people, Buddies will gain valuable skills for any CV – teamwork, leadership, communication and problem solving.
Do you want to help create a more welcoming environment at Middlesex? Come on guys, I’ve already decided that I’m gonna be a Buddy… What about you?
To apply for the position of MDXSU Buddy, click HERE! Please note – the Buddy Programme for the Health and Education school will run earlier than the rest of the schools.
Get in touch with studentadvice@mdx.ac.uk if you have any questions, or want to find out more information.
