In 2020, when I was 25, I was reading and hearing about COVID-19. I was put on furlough from my Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, office job, and was bored sitting in my bedroom. So, I made other commitments and started the ball-rolling as an NHS Volunteer. I was looking after people with underlying health issues and vulnerable people. It was the most rewarding thing seeing and hearing satisfied people, after having a phone call with them, bringing them their weekly groceries, and even their much-needed prescriptions. It was so rewarding that I quit my furloughed office job and applied to be a health care assistant for my local NHS and a neurological rehab centre.
My journey didn’t end there. I applied to college to do an access course in nursing and midwifery. I became known as ‘Mumma Emma’ and if any of my fellow student-colleagues needed help, they’d come to me. Even my tutor came to me every now and then due to my excellence in ‘how to use Microsoft Teams!'
I graduated from college and had three interviews with different universities. I chose the University of Essex and moved to Colchester in September 2021. After a difficult start, I finally felt like a university student by December. During this time, I applied to become an RCN Student Ambassador for the Essex branch.
Come the end of my first year, I was invited to the Dean’s list of excellence for getting a 1:1 (first) in my modules. I managed to recruit four or five new ambassadors at my university and I was even a candidate for the RCN Student Member of Council.
I have now been elected as the new RCN Student Committee member for Eastern region. I am 100% dedicated and committed to ensuring our student nurses are listened to and valued. I am working alongside some amazing ambassadors who I know will feedback any concerns or comments. I will be working with a great team, including RCN Eastern Board Chair Natalie and Essex Branch Chair Vanessa. I will also be working alongside other ambassadors and committee members throughout the whole of the UK. Collectively, we can get student voices heard, comments/suggestions valued and help student nurses to have the best experience they can.
If there is one thing I want you to know it is that I am here if you have a concern, a question, a suggestion, or just want a chat. I can be contacted through my email: emma.bird@reps.rcn.org.uk.
I also want all students to know that, regardless of your background, you can get somewhere, you can become an RCN Ambassador, or the next RCN Committee member. So please, give it a try today.
