Joys of Joel: New College Lanarkshire's 26/27 Student President

Newly elected Student President Joel Alvarez, HNC Business graduate, did not know what to expect when he signed up to stand as a candidate.

Joel took on the role just over a week ago and has already grappled with what he wants to do over the coming year. And within days of taking up post, he found himself standing in front of 200 people at a meeting - a moment in which he described as 'nerve wracking' but that experience has set his priorities straight.

The issue that Joel saw first hand in his own cohort was how many students dropped out around Christmas. "That was one of the biggest problems in my class," he said. "They felt it wasn't enough time, so they'd take more days off, and it just ruined their progress."

His solution is practical: incentivise return, even if the idea is still being workshopped, "I want to try and keep people coming back in," he explained. "Maybe put an incentive or something, if you come back in early, maybe you get rewarded."

As a keen gym goer his second priority is health - both physical and mental - to get students outdoors. Joel wants to launch a hill walking club, which meets monthly to prepare people for the payoff of trekking to a peak.

"When you go up a mountain, you feel actually proud of doing something," he explained. It's the kind of thing that sticks with you.

Joel credited the college itself with pushing him into the role. His Academic Leader gave him a reference; the institution created the conditions for him to run. "They're the ones that actually pushed me to do it," he said. "They basically set it up perfectly for me."

Joel met with NCL Principal Professor Christopher Moore to discuss his vision. "It was great to talk with our Principal about how we can make the college experience better for students," Joel said. "I'm looking forward to the year ahead."