Introduction

I am a 4th year Chemistry BSc student. Born in Estonia, I lived in Finland for 10 years before coming to Aberdeen in 2019. I enjoy having a variety of hobbies and spend much of my free time learning languages, trying out new foods and doing many different sports. I am passionate about using sports as a tool to bring people together and I strive to create a more inclusive and engaging university environment.

What are your three priorities for the year?

I will start a recurring cooking class at the Hillhead kitchen that teaches students to save money by cooking inexpensive, nutritious meals. The cost-of-living crisis has hit students especially hard in terms of bills and grocery expenses. Many people who come to university move away from home for the first time and struggle to find the time and money for healthy home cooking. These classes would be a great opportunity to meet fellow students as well.

The two old tennis courts, one in Hillhead, and one on campus, are currently unused. They could be utilised for not only tennis, but for basketball, volleyball, futsal, and many other sports. I will lobby to get them back into usable shape, creating opportunities for people to engage in more sports for free.

I will help other students to start intramural sports sessions within their departments or friend groups  to build a sense of community and belonging. I am currently organising Chemistry Society football sessions. These sorts of session are a great way to meet other students, and even lecturers on a more casual basis. Give it a kick sessions have also been a success, but still suffer from being unknown to many students.

What unique skill/knowledge can you bring to the role to stand out from the other candidates? 

I have been in student representation positions since I was 12 years old, having been involved in students’ council and peer support activity in primary and high school. In university I have been a class representative and am currently the secretary of the Volleyball Club. Due to my contributions to the club last year, I was nominated as fresher of the year at the Sports Ball. I have been an active member of 10 different societies, 5 of which are sports clubs, so I have knowledge of how different types of societies operate within the university. I also have diverse language skills, excellent time management abilities and love to help people out!

What do you think is the biggest issue that students are facing at the moment and how do you plan to tackle it? 

The cost-of-living crisis is a massive problem for students. The price of everything has gone up and student loans have not caught up. How are we expected to do well in our studies when we can barely afford to eat? Thankfully there has been some support from the government via the energy bills support scheme, but that is not enough. It is not fair that students have to take out big loans just to get by, before even starting their adult life. I will lobby for Scotland to adopt a different model of supporting students which would make access to higher education easier and fairer. Financial support, not financial debt.