Hi! I’m Wren, your Vice President Achievement and Belonging! For the past three years I studied Film and Television Production at our High Wycombe campus and now I’m about to graduate this July!
Coming to BNU was actually my second time trying university – I originally gave it a go straight out of school, but it wasn’t the right time or course for me. After a few years of working and a year studying a HNC, I decided to pursue Film and moved from the Highlands of Scotland to High Wycombe. It was a huge step and a very nerve-wracking thing to move so far from home, but once I was settled and had met my first-year flatmates, I knew it was the right choice.
Freshers Fair introduced me to all the sports and societies on offer from the Students’ Union and when I tell you I signed up for a lot, I mean it! I gave everything that I was interested in a go and although some of them didn’t stick, I’m so glad I tried them. I highly recommend all students – not just new students – to take full advantage of the free sports, societies, activities and events on offer because where else are you going to get this kind of opportunity? If there’s one thing I regret from my first year, it’s not getting involved in as much as I could have.
In my second year I became Treasurer for Bucks Tabletop and Gaming (BTaG) society before going on to become Chair in my third year. I was also a member of two sports teams, playing football and volleyball for the university. I played centre-back for Bucks Women’s Football (Bucks WFC) and the girls I met are some of the best friends I’ve made during my time here. I was Secretary for the club in my final year and loved every minute of it, even when it poured with rain during matches! My preferred sport though is volleyball and I played Libero for the women’s team as well as taking on Secretary, Welfare Liaison, Sport4Fun Ambassador and Higher Education Volleyball Officer (HEVO) in my final year. We worked so hard over this past year and enjoyed so many fantastic wins including a 3-0 sweep at Varsity and becoming Bucks Students’ Union ‘Team of the Year 2023/24’! Genuinely, the friends I’ve made through sports and societies are my closest and best relationships and I highly recommend giving them a go!
Along with those clubs and studying, I was also a graduate of the Leadership Academy in my final year and through that was able to complete a volleyball assistant coaching course as well as develop my public speaking and leadership skills. This helped me in my elected role as Societies Council Chair throughout the year and gave me the confidence to run in our Sabbatical Officer elections which was a challenging, but incredibly rewarding experience.
Thanks to the employability workshops, skills courses and recreational activities offered by the SU as well as the amazing, supportive staff, I have not only managed to complete my degree and gain many other qualifications and skills, but thoroughly enjoyed my time here and I am beyond excited about what the next year will bring.
I can’t wait to share my plans with you all and I hope this year is even better than the last!
Wren Sell
Vice President Achievement and Belonging 2024-25