The Master\u2019s course was better than I could have expected. The cohort came from many different backgrounds and disciplines including those who had been out in the world of work and returned to study to streamline their skills. It was great to take from their perspectives and experiences.<\/p>\n
Over the course of my year as a Master\u2019s student I worked as part of many community groups that drew on my strengths in both welfare and mental health \u2013 including the LGBTQ+ society<\/a> (where I trailblazed the campaign for rainbow laces within the university sports groups to show support) and things such as Respect the No,<\/em> a student-led campaign which aims to address issues with drink spiking at universities.<\/p>\n The role of Welfare and Community Officer at Kent Union was a natural progression. I realised I could harness my KBS course in management and mental health struggles to benefit the student community. I didn\u2019t get it last election, but it didn\u2019t deter me. Like our Union President Zaid, I came back bigger and better!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Going on the campaign trail with Zaid felt quite something, we both had studied with KBS in differing capacities and we both knew how to market ourselves and run the campaigns like a business. Overall, however, we all had the students and their welfare at the heart of what we do. \u00a0My plan was to focus on the real issues affecting students and their emotional welfare such as the Cost-of-Living Crisis and financial hardship. I also wanted to represent the \u2018unheard\u2019 voices of the student community and ensure that university life is an equal playing field for everyone.<\/p>\n My studies in Management have really lent themselves to the day-to-day job, dealing with accounts, balance books as well as working as part of the team at Kent Union are all things that a Master\u2019s in Management has helped with. I also find that studying Psychology and being part of so many societies across my five years at Kent have given me the experience on a pastoral level that compliments my executive skills.”<\/p>\n Thomas Freeston is Vice President (Welfare and Community) at Kent Union and a former MSc Management student.<\/p>\n He has always lived in Kent and fell in love with the city of Canterbury while at university. Through a background in Psychology and his own mental health struggles, he is incredibly passionate about student welfare.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Kent Union is run by students for students. Annually elected officers oversee the running of the organisation on behalf of the student body. Click here to get involved or to find out more.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nThomas Freeston
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/kbs-news-events\/files\/2022\/06\/thomas-freeston-01.png\")
<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n