Andreti Stroie
President - Lancaster Bright Futures 2008-2009
"After completing one year at university in Romania, I decided to do more for myself so I came to study accounting and finance in the UK, at Lancaster University.
In my first year I got involved in Economics society and in the newly formed Lancaster Bright Futures and at the end of the year I decided to step up and I was elected joint president for Lancaster Bright Futures for 2008-2009. I took this as a challenge and set the target for the year to make Lancaster Bright Futures the biggest and most successful society at Lancaster University.
The position allowed me to put my ideas into practice, but also helped me to developed key skills like communication, negotiation and time management. By working with other students I’ve improved my soft skills, learning how to work and coordinate people but also listed to their ideas. In fact, we’ve worked together very well and we all learnt a lot while having great fun. Nonetheless, by participating at the national events, I had the chance to meet company representatives and students from other universities, share ideas and increase my network.
The way we decided to reach our target was not through the number of events, but through the quality of them – we’ve organized L’Oreal Brandstorm and Dinner with industry, both with over 100 participants.
All these experiences had a big impact on my personal development and also helped to secure me an internship for this summer.
For the next year, I was invited to be part of the team that will organise the national events, which I accepted and I am really looking forward to it.
My advice for every student is to start or get involved in your local Bright Futures society – it is exactly what you need for a successful career!"
Gemma Bubb
President - Swansea Bright Futures 2008-2009
I am the President of the Bright Futures society in Swansea University, and the committee and I aim to help students see that it is more than a degree that is going to get them that dream job! I know that getting involved in as many things as possible while I have the opportunity to at University, will give me the best chance for my future career, and all student should be aware of this!
I am in my final year at Swansea University, studying English literature, therefore, all the things I do with Bright Futures have had no relevance to my degree or anything else I have done in University. Therefore, I count myself lucky that I was able to set this society up in Swansea, and I hope it will continue to run for years to come.
By being part of Bright Futures, I have learnt so much. I have advanced my skills in ways I never thought I would get the chance to have. The amount of hands on experience you get from being part of the committee is fantastic, and although you have the National Team behind you, they never take over, but let the societies flourish, and consequently the committee members learn a lot. This lets you learn the ups and the downs, and you also find out the best ways to cater for your own University, as every one is different. You run your committee and society like you would a business, and consequently gain invaluable experience that any future employer would cherish.
You also get to experience the tasks of hiring committee members, delegation, as well as events coordination. I have also had countless networking with a variety of different companies both locally and nationally, and have had the chance to meet lots of new people in business and students in different Universities. Consequently, I have become a lot more confident at public speaking which in turn has strengthened my presentation skills, and made me a more outgoing person in general.
I set my aims high and keep pushing myself in order to get where I want to go.
This I therefore hope will help me to continue into more demanding roles across my future career after University.
Contact details
Alex Pryce
Committee Member - Leicester Bright Futures 2008-2009
Alex Pryce has been dubbed the ‘one to watch` in the art world by judges of the Women of the Future Award. The youngest category winner at just 20 years old, Alex picked up the Booz & Company Art and Culture Woman of the Future Award for her work conceiving and launching PoetCasting, a podcasting enterprise which secured Arts Council funding earlier this year. PoetCasting (www.poetcasting.co.uk) features poets reading their own work.
"As part of the first Bright Futures committee at the University of Leicester, I can see first hand the value it brings to the members. In my position as Treasurer, I've acquired and applied valuable skills surrounding budgeting and event management. The events we have run have given me a renewed sense of focus and drive when approaching the graduate job market in tough economic times."
Alex has already been recognised for her creative potential by Ignite! and NESTA. Alex is also a full time English student, Treasurer of the Bright Futures Society and a poet. Alex is also a member of the Inspirational Women's Network and a Fellow of the RSA.
To find out more, visit Alex's website: www.alexpryce.com
Contact details: poetcasting@hotmail.co.uk
Jaqueline Jobes
Committee Member - Swansea Bright Futures 2008-2009
BSc Zoology
Swansea Bright Futures Corporate Liaison Officer
University has always been an uphill struggle for me, trying my best to progress to the next level and ensure I get the grades with every bit of work I do. But despite dyslexia making my academic progression a challenge, it has given me the drive to do more with my life here at Swansea University, as I know that I may not be able to rely solely on my degree when I graduate.
This passion to seek new skills and build up my CV encouraged me to run for President of the Dance Society in 07-08. I ran the society successfully for a whole academic year with the assistance of my committee, setting up a community dance project, putting on our first ever two-night public show and raising lots of money for charity throughout the year. We ultimately won two sought-after awards at the Society Awards night; Best Society and Most Efficient Society.
As the year came to a close I knew it was the end of an era for me and I was eager to get involved in something completely new, and then I received an email requesting committee members for a Bright Futures Society. I thought the opportunity was too good to be true, and all my promises to focus 110% on my course went straight out the window and I replied instantly!
Working with Bright Futures this year has not been easy, having many teething problems and financial woes, but I feel we have progressed into a strong and successful team. We have put on a whole host of events, developed a wide range of skills, and gained many contacts. All this has cleared a pathway to a very successful society in the future.
For me, Bright Futures has opened my eyes to so many different career opportunities as well as opening doors too! But being part of this society has meant so much more than bullet points on a CV, it’s all about self development and ultimately becoming a better, more rounded individual, and having the ability to cope with whatever industry throws at you. I also know that I have met some great friends along the way, which is the icing on top of the cake!
Paul Marsella
Strathclyde Bright Futures President 2009-10
Helping represent Scotland in the Bright Futures network has, in this short period of time, been very exciting! As President of Strathclyde Bright Futures my role has been made so much easier by finding an extremely supportive team to help launch our new society.
2009/10 is going to be a busy year and we have BIG plans to fully extend the society throughout the University. In the current economic climate it has become ever more apparent that companies are seeking students who have high ambition and drive. Bright Futures can provide such a platform and I am encouraging other students throughout the University to represent their departments and build strong relationships with some of the UK’s biggest corporations.
As with everything in life I don’t get involved in anything half-heartedly and look forward to building my leadership, team-building and presenting skills … just to name a few! I believe being part of this network will also teach me a few lessons on how to run a successful business in the future, as well as increasing my chances of employment with the long list of corporate contacts.
I will be entering my 5th year of my Masters degree in Product Design Engineering this year, hence, wish to pass on a well founded society to prospective students next year. Things won’t be too work, work, work at Strathclyde Bright Futures as our social events convenor will be preparing a host of events which will help our society bond. The people you study with today may well be your work colleagues of the future, so we believe we should start building these relationships as early as possible!
For more information please do not hesitate to contact us on:
Cheers,
Paul Marsella
President – Strathclyde Bright Futures
Mihaela Radu
Joint President, Lancaster Bright Futures 2008-2009
Hi everyone! I am Mihaela, a Romanian student doing an Accounting, Auditing & Finance degree at Lancaster University. I am also the other half president of Lancaster Bright Futures. I had the honour of being part of the executive committee since last year when the society was founded. I saw it growing from ‘just another student society’ to the largest career society on campus – and this happened in just 2 years.
I started as an Events Manager and I absolutely loved it, so I took on the challenge of running the society. We had very high ambitions for a newcomer, but in the end we managed to outperform our expectations. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun – I absolutely enjoyed every second of it!
Yes, we did have obstacles. Hosting Dinner with Industry meant raising £3000 to cover all the expenses such as the three course meal at a 4 star hotel, the table magician and the professional photographer. But in the end, we made it: 100 students and 20 representatives from top companies networking in a different setting than a lecture theatre. And we met obstacles all the time, but even so, there was no event we hosted that did not live up to our high expectations.
For my second term, I was away in Leeds for a work placement in auditing. Being part of the society definitely did not help me with auditing different accounts, but it helped me to organize my time, to work well in a team and to communicate with the client, which is essential for auditors.
But there is more to it than gaining the skills needed to succeed in the job market. There is also the personal achievement. Learning from a friend that a professor has praised our society for our efforts during a lecture or receiving an email from a lecturer who wanted to participate to the Dinner with Industry, thinking that as professional as it looked like, the event is not designed for students, but for the university staff – all these little things filled me up with pride and gave me the confidence that I can do almost anything I set my mind to!
My only regret is that this is the last year I will be involved with Bright Futures, but I am sure the next committees will do even better. So, my advice to everyone is to get involved in your university’s Bright Futures – trust me it will help you have a bright future!
