One year, one blog

Well it’s the end to another year and this year has really flown- I can’t quite believe that it’s June… These are my highlights from this academic year!

September saw intro week but more importantly, it saw the start of our new interns (and the return of India). You guys have never failed to amaze me with your talents and passion for enterprise. You have all developed in so many ways- I just can’t believe what you have all done in a short amount of time. Anna, George, Linda and Sophie will all be returning next year but sadly Alex, India, James and Kush will be leaving USE very shortly. I wish you all the best in the future and I am sure that I will hear about the great Romanian who is amazing at economics, the amazing aerospace geek (sorry Kush) who has designed something whizzy for planes, James and the Giant App et la Woof qui a changé le monde.

Do you think we are happy?

In October, we won the Some Comms Awards for the Best Business Blog. As you can tell from the photo, Samantha is rather happy. However, we still don’t know who the mystery man is that Elena and I are giving a hug to… so answers on a postcard please…

November got all our knitting needles out just in time for the International Craft Fair, designed by Sophie. Everyone there was inspired and felt that they could turn their passion into a viable business idea.

December and January are always quite quiet at USE (as most of you are at home). However I don’t think I can ever forget the Christmas Market that we had in the union on their Christmas Eve. This year, India and Anna worked their socks off to make a rather festive grotto in their Mrs Claus outfits.

Flippin’eck, we were Guinness World Record Holders in February. Me, Samantha, Sara, Anna and Alison all went to the Edge and tossed our pancakes. That was a rather surreal day but I think it will stay with me forever.

March was one of the most hectic months that I have ever had. I produced a Formula Student Event which aimed to try and get sponsorship for both of the Student Formula Racing Teams at Sheffield Hallam University and The University of Sheffield. I also ran a Product Development Day at Gripple, which was really fun and I gained a lot from it (hopefully those of you who went did too).

Crikey- it was then the start of Engineering YES in April. This is the first externally funded project which I have ever run, so it was rather scary. However, we did really well and won the regional heats and will be going to the Engineering YES finals in June.

May arrived far too quickly. We found out that Alex won Best International Student in the North East (and well deserved too) and we were the best Student Employer (whoopy). But it’s like the Oscars- you know it is the end of the year when these awards take place (boo).

This academic year has been amazing and I am so proud and privileged to work at USE. I get to meet and work with the most inspirational students and staff– it is fantastic. Look our Freshers- you have a tough act to follow.