Candidate Profile

Tell students about yourself

Hey! I’m Samara, a first year Law student at Grey College, born and raised in Hong Kong. I am a member of numerous Law societies (as well as DJ Soc), and represent my college on their Badminton and Basketball teams. As an outgoing and sociable person, I love meeting new people and spending time with my friends, while maintaining a strong balance between sports and academic commitments.

If elected, what sort of Officer can students expect you be?

I would describe myself as approachable, social, very proactive, as well as quite direct (especially when it comes to things I care about). If elected, I would commit myself to improving Durham’s Faculty of Social Sciences & Health through increasing awareness of Faculty events and helping prospective/current students navigate the reality of what studying at the faculty is like. I would love to listen to students and their ideas to improve our university, because at the end of the day, I want everyone to love Durham and their experience here.

Why is this role important to you?

I love Durham and I’m grateful that I get to study here every day. I’ve created a second family at this university, and I care deeply about keeping our reputation as a top university. I would love to see Durham continue to be inclusive, a safe space for everyone, as well as a university everyone wants to go to. Ultimately, we are here for our degree and what we study, and I admire how the Student Union has a platform which can be used to improve Durham’s faculties directly. With this, we can make major changes by communicating directly to Faculty leaders and tailoring our degree to what works and what doesn’t. Durham is a well-respected university for their academics, and as a Faculty Officer, I would take it as my personal responsibility that its ranking only goes up.

What is your pitch to students?

My friends describe me as high-energy, and that’s exactly what I’ll bring to the Student Union. I’m passionate about creating a space where every student feels heard and supported, especially while still having fun. My priority is real change driven by student voices, and I’m committed to doing that if elected.