Students’ Association President: a year at the helm
Juan Pablo Rodríguez, MA (Hons) 2022, reflects on his journey from Mexico to Scotland and onwards to Oxford, with a successful term as President of the Students’ Association at St Andrews along the way. Here, he shares his top tips for those considering a student leadership role.
My home is in Mexico, and I first visited Scotland in 2015. I was immediately struck by the country and the culture and set my sights on undertaking my undergraduate studies there. By 2016, I had narrowed that dream down to St Andrews. I was enamoured with the town’s beauty and history and decided to try my luck for a place on the Foundation course at what was then the English Language Teaching department (now the International Education Institute). As luck would have it, I received not only an offer but a scholarship, and in September 2017, my St Andrews story began.
Over the course of my Foundation year and subsequent undergraduate degree in Medieval History and Archaeology, I made many friendships in Haldane at DRA, moved into Andrew Melville, and finished my second year (during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic) in Agnes Blackadder before returning to DRA.
All these experiences provided me with opportunities to adapt to Scottish culture, to meet people from all walks of life, and to develop my skills in academic writing (in my second language) at my own pace.
I loved my undergraduate years at St Andrews. The Schools of History and Classics provided such welcoming environments in which to develop my academic abilities.
While the pandemic had a massive impact on the way my classes were taught, and I missed out on field work sessions, I enjoyed learning about medieval castles, death and the afterlife in the Middle Ages and principles and techniques of archaeology.
Once restrictions were lifted, I threw myself with great enthusiasm into the life of the Students’ Association, becoming involved with various groups and societies. I was President of the History Society for two years, led the Students’ Association Music Fund and hosted a regular radio show on STAR.
This passion for working with fellow students and on projects that benefitted our community is what inspired me to run for Association President in my fourth year. By then, I had spent five years in St Andrews and felt familiar with student concerns. I was determined to advocate for feasible solutions to those problems, and to work with the University to represent the student body.
My manifesto focused on the affordability and availability of student accommodation, student numbers, the cost of living, UCU strikes and communications. Once elected, my proudest achievement was working to fulfil those aims – in particular, tackling the cost-of-living crisis.
I was involved in implementing the Stagecoach bus discount, the night bus between St Andrews and Dundee, and the Guardian Saint campaign, which was launched with a donation from my own sabbatical stipend. Then there was the Students for Students product line in collaboration with the University Shop and increasing the Accommodation Award from £1500 to £1750.
At the end of my year as President, I had the pleasure of handing over the reins to Barry Will, and the advice I gave to him is what I would give to any future post-holder: do your best, for that is the best you can do. You have no control over the 101 different challenges you will face: the death of Her Majesty the Queen during Freshers’ Week, the housing squeeze one month into my tenure and the temporary closure of 601 due to concerns over the use of RAAC concrete in the roof space all spring to mind.
With every President comes a new set of obstacles to navigate and all you can do is channel your creativity, remain optimistic and be resourceful. Results can take time to show, but this leadership role is not about showering yourself in glory – rather it is about improving the St Andrews experience for the students both today and the future.
At the end of my presidency, I returned to work (for the third time) at the University’s Summer Academic Experience Course, after which my St Andrews story drew to a close, for now. I have recently taken up my deferred offer for a Masters in Archaeological Science at the University of Oxford and plan to pursue a career in Higher Education, either in an academic context or in communications.
It is hard to know what the future will hold, but I can see myself returning to St Andrews. These years have been pivotal in my life, and I would love to continue giving back to the University in one way or another.