7 Things I Love About Being A Link To Leeds Ambassador

If you are an international student who is about to embark on an exciting new journey to come and study at the University of Leeds, the Link to Leeds scheme is bound to become familiar to you. This is a long-standing ambassador scheme that has cemented itself as an integral part of the University community to assist international students in preparing and making the most of their time in Leeds. The ambassadors are incredibly friendly and full of beans, who are more than happy to lend a hand to anyone in need with their never-ending enthusiasm. I owed these wonderful people a favour after they helped me with my accommodation before I even arrived in the UK. I then conceived an ambition to become one of them and help other students in similar situations to me.

I knew I would love it if I could become a member of the group, and I was right! What I didn’t realise is that this incredible initiative would become my lifeline throughout a year like no other. The year has been filled with much uncertainty, skyrocketing stress, overwhelming confusion and the strangest things. So here come the seven awesome things I love the most about being part of this family. Even though I could name many things, there is only space here to mention a few.

1. “Thank you for your interest in applying for this position.” / Application process

Unlike other standard recruitment processes – where I would have to submit essay answers to specific questions, the Link to Leeds application allowed candidates to experience actual tasks by taking on the role of social media guru. Part of it involved documenting my typical day in Leeds from the moment I rise until I hit the hay. The assignment’s goal was to gauge my ability to generate content that is engaging, relevant and resonates well with other students.

Once I had passed the first round, I was taken to an interview where I spoke directly with the managers of the scheme, who were there not to challenge me but to genuinely get to know me as a person. To my astonishment, the main boss was also the amazing instructor of my regular Zumba classes. I vividly remember the joyful conversation we had, what the expectations of me were, and how we could work together to improve international students’ experiences. The recruitment process was pleasant, and it gave me a clear picture of what my upcoming journey would be like. I guess I was able to show my strong commitment and passion for the position.

2. “Can you share with us about your experience at Leeds?” / Leeds pride

Did you know that the University of Leeds offers more than 800 courses for you to choose from? Did you know that the university has one of the largest campuses nationwide with state-of-the-art educational and recreational facilities? As for the city itself, Leeds is famous for its variety of delectable cuisine from every corner of the world. And it’s just a stone’s throw away from the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Lake District, North Yorkshire and the medieval city of York.

I got involved in a wide range of different activities before I joined the scheme. I thought I knew so much about Leeds, but it turned out what I knew was just a drop in the ocean. Not until I became an ambassador did I learn that Leeds had so much more to offer, and one needs to truly open their mind to welcome it. I took further pride in the university that I am studying at. I became more emotionally attached to the city I chose to live in. Only by becoming a Link to Leeds Ambassador, could I expose myself to a more significant breadth of knowledge about Leeds and be able to pass on this spirit to the next batch of students.

3. “Cultivating new friendships and opportunities.” / New doors

Being a Link to Leeds Ambassador has undoubtedly helped me forge new friendships, I lost count of how many people that I interacted with. Courtesy of the conversations I had with them, I have become more conscious of the diversity we are living in and appreciative of the privileges that I currently have.

Also, taking on the role as an ambassador at a UK top 10 university like Leeds has increased my relevant knowledge, honed my soft skills, and expanded my network. These have contributed to strengthening my profile and I hope that will help me earn more opportunities in the immediate future. I have already been selected as one of the first student ambassadors of the UK Council for International Student Affairs – where I could efficiently voice my concerns and opinions as well as those of my friends on a national platform to contribute to better policymaking. Link to Leeds is also a highlight that I am proud to share in job interviews that I have had because it leaves an extraordinary impact on international students, especially in a time of uncertainty like now.

4. “COVID won’t get us down!” / COVID

The virulent COVID phenomenon stole my opportunity to represent my school on a study tour overseas as well as the volunteer activities I was supposed to do with the primary school children alongside other items on my to-do list. However, Link to Leeds’s work was immediately shifted online and the demand for our vital services peaked. We got busier organising live events and were constantly monitoring the instant messaging chat to respond to any immediate concerns from students during these turbulent times.

Due to the popular English test not being able to take place as usual, I was delegated a new task of invigilating incoming students undertaking an alternative examination called Password. Getting up every morning, setting up the testing systems and waiting to assist the test-taking students became my new routine during the lockdown. This kept me sane and got me through the dark period of isolation. What’s more, I also got the chance to work with the university on clearing days, where I supported parents and young learners who had just finished high school and were about to head off to universities. Those experiences have enabled me to effectively socialise with the world at a time where social distancing is the new normal. Without Link to Leeds, I would have found it harder to remain calm and stay positive in a time that was unprecedented in so many ways.

5. “I have found myself in helping others.” / Self-help

I joined the scheme thinking that it’s other people who will benefit from the sharing and advice given by the ambassadors. I later realised that I was wrong. Every time I answered a question from prospective students, I earned an opportunity to reflect on my experience and reassess why I started. Knowing this study abroad journey wouldn’t be as rosy as I expected, I could never have envisaged the devastating impacts that the unexpected COVID pandemic has unleashed upon the world. The academic stress, the peer pressure, the new expectations from society took a toll on my mental health. And Link to Leeds allowed me to discover little joys in my daily tasks thanks to the interactions with other ambassadors and people from all walks of life.

I started to pick up writing blogs to share my own experience, both good and bad. I recorded videos in order to reinforce the message of hope and encourage other students. I reached out to more people to reconnect with them, listen to their stories and exchange mine. Each occasion allowed me to process what I was experiencing and reminded me of the positivity needed. I am thankful and hope to be able to continue this habit and maintain such a positive outlook.

6. “We are here for you!” / The people

If I have to name the best thing about Link to Leeds, that would be the people who shaped it. We only met once at the initial training right before the national lockdown was implemented. We then worked very closely during a performance-critical period through virtual sessions. As the restrictions were eased a few months later, we got to go out again and planned a get-together between ourselves and our managers. When we saw each other for the first time after working online together for so long, the platonic connection that we all shared was undeniable. I was so excited to put faces to names, the names I only saw on the screen before. It didn’t take long for us to get along and become great friends.

The most memorable experience with these fantastic people was right before I left the UK. That was when I came down with a pesky fever. I was showered with the outpouring of messages and offers of support from my fellow ambassadors. All my managers checked in on me and made sure I had everything I needed. One of them who is now also my great friend even came over with some helpful provisions that warmed me up despite the cold that was torturing me. It’s these people that made me fall in love with Link to Leeds and created the memories that I will cherish for life.

7. “You make me love you!”

Now that my journey with Leeds has drawn to a close, I have found my mind drifting back through all the moments I have shared with Link to Leeds.

It was so exciting to log in at every live event and answer prospective students’ questions. It was so eye-opening to write and read blogs on the ambassador page. It was feeling like a butterfly in my stomach waiting to see how many students would show up on every Zoom social. It was a feeling of satisfaction to complete the timesheet and get paid for doing what I love. It was heart-warming to see other ambassadors checking in on me every time we gathered. It was a sense of pride to represent Leeds at study abroad fairs taking place across the world. And it was a feeling of love when we bonded over work and enjoyed each other’s company dearly.

These will soon become memories, but it’s the emotions and moments we shared that will stand the test of time and keep us happy every time we think about it.

Thank you, Link to Leeds and everyone in it, for being a crucial part of my youth - well spent in the UK.

Ha Noi, Nov 21^st 2020 – upon my quarantine’ completion.

This piece of writing is dedicated to my L2L managers (Annica, Emma and Hannah) and my L2L fellows (Ahmed, Yash, Hui, Joceline, Tracy, Anastasia, Suhaib, Intan, Jian, Erza, and other brilliant folks) alongside lovely international students I luckily met along the way.