Why I love being a Student Ambassador

This article was written by Fine Art BA(Hons) student Jessie.

I decided that I wanted to become a Student Ambassador before I had even come to Falmouth, after using the 'Ask our Community' tool on the website to ask an ambassador questions about what my future life would look like.

I was able to talk to another international student who was studying fine art, and she was incredibly helpful at answering the questions I had from the perspective of someone I could actually relate to. From that point, I was set on being that person for others, as I felt strongly that the work that would bring me the most satisfaction and fulfilment would be something that allowed me to help others.

After getting through the application and interview process, which I found to be a positive experience that allowed me to showcase my enthusiasm for the role, I went from being the person asking questions to the person answering them. I love that I can choose which work opportunities I apply for, so that I can fit my shifts into my busy schedule without sacrificing my coursework and other opportunities. Personally I love working Open Days and doing Webinars, as they are both great opportunities to connect with prospective/future students who are feeling the same things I was just a couple years ago. I have found being a Student Ambassador to be a really fun and intuitive job that is great for building conversational skills and confidence. The team is super supportive and it really is a perfect job for a busy student who also wants to make some extra money on their own schedule.

At the end of my first year, I decided to become a Digital Ambassador to increase the number of opportunities I have as an ambassador. As a Digital Ambassador, I am able to answer questions on the 'Ask our Community' tool, write blogs, and make videos. These work opportunities are great because I can complete them when it works for my schedule and I have creative freedom in how I convey my experiences. 

I also applied to become a Senior Ambassador at the end of my second year. Since I had never worked a job where I had any sort of managerial responsibilities, I was a little bit nervous at first. However, I had a fantastic Senior Ambassador in my department who explained to me what the role was like and encouraged me to go for it. I am so glad I did because I am very happy being a Senior Ambassador and all of the things I was nervous about are not a problem at all! As a Senior Ambassador, I have more responsibility over the Junior Ambassadors in my department, and it’s important for me to be an active ambassador who works often, especially on Open Days. I received really helpful training when I became a Senior Ambassador, such as first aid, fire marshalling, and management. Because the whole ambassador team is so helpful and supportive, I’ve never felt like I have to know everything or have all the answers- when I need help, I just ask for it! I am learning as I go, and every single shift brings me a new experience and a deeper understanding for the role. As long as I show up with a love and enthusiasm for my course and a willingness to learn, everything turns out great!