Officer Blog: Education Officer - Gearoid O’ Donovan

In the lead up to our Online Annual Assembly, our current NSE want to give our members and potential candidates an insight into their roles. Here we have our Education Officer, Gearoid O’ Donovan, from Waterford.

ISSU is an organisation I was interested in as Education is one of the most important things in young people's lives. I specifically picked the role of Education Officer as I had a desire to help to resolve some of the issues in the area of education affecting students.Of course I wasn’t expecting to fix the system in my year but any small step was a positive.

My role on the NSE is largely about policy and representation. You spend a lot of time writing policy which can be really interesting as you’re helping to change a system of which you’ve seen the issues first hand as a student. You also have amazing opportunities to feed into our education system through attending consultations on behalf of students such as the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Then there is the general work of the NSE in growing and running the organisation such as organising and attending our own events.

My proudest achievement is our Senior Cycle Policy continuing on from the great work of the previous Education Officer in putting together the survey, it was my chance to put together a document to represent the view of students in what is undoubtedly one of the most important and stressful things we will all do so any chance to help change it is hugely positive.

Say yes to as many opportunities as possible being on the ISSU NSE opens you to many national and international opportunities so say yes and make friends and learn skills along the way. In regards to doing the job of Education Officer definitely say yes to help, some issues are so broad that you can’t be an expert in them all. 

The team that is the NSE. You're going to spend a lot of time with these people and get to know them all quite well. You will have so much fun at events. All my memories of ISSU are lovely, you’ll have a fantastic time between the serious work. 

For more info on how to run for the NSE click here. Deadline for the nominations is the 26th of April!

Officer Blog: Communications Officer: Eiman Elsir

In the lead up to our Online Annual Assembly, our current NSE want to give our members and potential candidates an insight into their roles. Here we have our Communications Officer, Eiman Elsir, from Kildare.

I wanted to pursue the role of Comms Officer for the union, because I wanted to make sure that the students we are doing all this incredible work for, are actually aware of it and to help create as much engaging content as possible!

During my term, we’ve set up the new and improved  ISSU website and kept it up to date with content. We created the ISSU email newsletter where we send monthly updates to over 500 subscribers! As well as that we are receiving maximum engagement on all platforms especially Instagram! 

I’ve really enjoyed doing communications for ISSU. I wouldn’t consider myself a very creative person, but I’ve surprised myself and gained so much confidence in making graphics and navigating social media. 

Being on the NSE has given me so many skills you just cannot learn in a classroom, and I’ve managed to make so many friends and have a great time as well. One of my favourite memories has to be the Skills Academy we run every year, it was my first ISSU event back in 2017 and to come back as an NSE Officer was really incredible.

If you’re thinking of running for the NSE make sure to keep an open mind and to enjoy the time you have. The year flies by so make sure to give it 100% all the way through. Throughout the year you will learn so much so make sure to soak it all up and ask questions! 

For more info on how to run for the NSE click here. Remember deadline to nominate yourself is 26th of April.

Officer Blogs: Oifigeach na Gaeilge - Caoimhe Molloy

In the lead up to our Online Annual Assembly, our current NSE want to give our members and potential candidates an insight into their roles. Here we have our Oifigeach na Gaeilge, Caoimhe Ní Mhaolaí from Wicklow.

I ran for my role as I wanted to be more active in saol mór na Gaeilge, and thought ISSU was the best medium to do so.

This year, I travelled to Romania for the Speak Together conference on minority languages, I arranged the translation of the new ISSU constitution, I organised Oifigeach ns Gaeilge training in partnership with Conradh na Gaeilge, I was very active on the Gaeilge4all education reform campaign.

I’m particularly proud of translating the constitution! I think its really important that ISSU's resources exist in the first language of the state, and that we can represent students from both Irish and English medium schools as fairly as possible.

My advice for the future Oifigeach na Gaeilge is: every Gaeilgeoir has a very personal relationship with an Ghaeilge, but don't let this stop you from being open to other suggestions, is le gach duine í.

One thing I enjoyed about my time on the NSE was organising a new & improved Skills Academy workshop with Conradh na Gaeilge.

For more info on how to run for the NSE click here. Remember deadline to nominate yourself is the 26th or April!

Officer Blog: Equality Officer - Eric Ehigie

In the lead up to our Online Annual Assembly, our current NSE want to give our members and potential candidates an insight into their roles. Here we have our Equality Officer, Eric Ehigie from Longford.

 I ran to become the Equality Officer as I wanted to bring a unique perspective to the role that has not been seen in the past. I am a fervent believer that equality is a right that all should have access to within and beyond the walls of the school and I wanted to work on emphasising the importance of guaranteeing that right to students. I also wanted to show people, by simply sitting on the executive, that ISSU is an organisation for all and regardless of your background, ethnicity or creed, you have a crucial role to play in the youth movement and your second-level student union. 

This year, I’ve worked on compiling as much data as I can about how students have been treated within the school environment- I’ve done this by releasing a survey on ‘Discrimination and Diversity’ in schools and also, by organising an Equality Consultation, which will hopefully take place at some point in the future. I have also gathered a diverse bundle of students to make an ‘Equality Team’. The Team help me to effectively carry out the goals on my manifesto that I was elected to complete and they bring forth a different viewpoint on the work I do as the Equality Officer, which has helped me greatly. I have led various projects and campaigns throughout the year also, such as the #WeAreOne campaign.

I would advise incoming NSE members to be yourself! You are elected for what you have to offer and for how you see the issues that are effecting students. Trust your abilities, and understand that you can bring things to the table that no one else can. 

I loved every moment spent on the NSE. I have met incredible people, made incredible friends, bettered myself and have learned so much about the power that young people have to yield change in Ireland. 

For more info on how to run for the NSE click here. Remember deadline to nominate yourself is the 26th or April!

Officer Blog: International Officer- Nadine Toye

In the lead up to our Online Annual Assembly, our current NSE want to give our members and potential candidates an insight into their roles. Here we have our International Officer, Nadine Toye from Donegal

This time last year I was preparing to run a campaign to get elected as the International Officerof ISSU. There were a number of reasons why I was running, but the biggest one was my love for international work and my belief that second-level students have to be represented to highest standard internationally. Throughout my term I have immersed myself into the world of international student politics and I've gained so many new experiences and knowledge that I was always able to bring back for the benefit of ISSU and second-level students in Ireland. To anyone that is considering running for international officer 2020-2021 I would say that you have to be prepared to put in the work, and a lot of it too! But everything that you put in comes back to you tenfold and it is so so worth it. As I said in my speech at last years Annual Assembly, being international officer is not a ticket to go sightseeing, it is instead an opportunity to work extremely hard for a cause that you believe in, while meeting amazing people and lifelong friends along the way. My favorite NSE memory of the year was definitely when we went ice skating together in December and I didn't have a clue what I was doing, hanging on to Gearoid and Eiman for dear life as the two of them dragged me around the rink! For me, being on the NSE for the past two years has given me a family of some of the best people dotted all around the country and that's why I would always recommend to everyone to get more involved with ISSU. 

For more info on how to run for the NSE click here. Remember deadline to nominate yourself is the 26th or April!

Officer Blog: Secretary - Luke Casserly

In the lead up to Annual Assembly and the closing of nominations for the NSE on the 1st of April, our current NSE want to give our members and potential candidates an insight into their roles. Starting off with our Secretary, Luke Casserly, from Longford.

Over the past year, I've been delighted to be serving as the ISSU NSE Secretary. It's been my second year in a row to fill this role! I ran for the position because I love organization and I'm mad about typing in Google Docs. I also feel it's a flexible role that allows you to work on a variety of topics. This year, I've been delighted to help bring organization to the work of the NSE, whether it be by making an agenda and minutes for each meeting or helping to organize events. My personal highlight of the year was co-ordinating the ISSU's work on Senator Paul Gavan's tipping bill which aimed to protect tips earned by workers. Being on the NSE has been the experience of a lifetime. I've met so many amazing activists who fill me with hope for the future! 

If I had a piece of advice for the incoming Secretary it'd be to stay on top of your emails and cherish every moment of your time in office! 

For more info on how to run for the NSE click here. Remember deadline to nominate yourself is the 26th of April!