Dia daoibh a chairde!
Is mise Ellen Ní Ghriofa agus táim ag seasamh don phost ionadaí scoile do HAPP!
My name is Ellen Griffin and I am standing for the position of school representative for HAPP. I am currently in first year studying International Relations and Politics, and over the course of this academic year I have been the course rep for my peers. I am also one of the six SWANN reps for HAPP working towards making QUB a more equal and inclusive environment. I am from a small village in Donegal and have had a great passion for student voice from an early age. I have stood as the Donegal representative in the Irish Second Level Students Union, being the voice of all students across the county at a national level and chairperson of student councils in the past. In terms of communication skills, I have two All- Ireland titles under my belt for debating in a team and public speaking individually. I have the experience, the communication skills and the passion to be the school representative for HAPP. I believe as a young woman living in Belfast and studying in Queen's, it is important for my voice and for all young women like myself to be heard.
My priorities lie in accurately representing the will of all students across all sectors in HAPP regardless of political or other differences. As for myself I am very passionate about Irish culture, politics and heritage. I try and incorporate the Irish language into all aspects of my life as it is what I grew up speaking with my mother.
If I were to be elected as school representative I would introduce a more streamline communication system between the school rep and the individual course representatives as I feel as though this is lacking currently. To do so I would hold monthly meetings either online or in person with the course reps across HAPP and hear their concerns along with those brought to them by their peers. By doing so, the overall meetings would run smoother and could dedicate less time to introducing the issues and more time towards actually solving them as I could act as a direct liaison between the course reps and the staff. I also would plan to increase cooperation between school and course reps with other initiatives in the school of HAPP such as the SWANN committee that I am apart of. Cooperation across teams will help everyone's jobs and lives become a little bit easier. As Tesco says 'every little helps'!!
Go raibh maith agaibh a chairde!
Le meas,
Ellen Ní Ghríofa