Love, Caity

Dear UniCrew, 

I am so incredibly grateful for what I have gained from my time involved with UniCrew so far. I am a second year law and politics student, and I couldn’t have found UniCrew at a better time in my life. 

I was always heavily involved in social impact and leadership at school, but I found myself floundering a bit in my first year of university. It was like I’d lost a lot of my sense of identity and purpose, isolated from the community and connection that I’d loved so much at school. I remember walking past the studio last year and being drawn to how lively and welcoming it looked, but I never ventured in or went further, consumed with the stress and sense of overwhelm that I found myself struggling with last year. 

However, when the end of the year approached, I saw an Instagram post about leadership roles for UniCrew, did some research and decided that I had to apply. And wow, am I so, so glad that I did. From the first moment that I walked into the interview and said hello to Tash and Sze-En, I knew that I’d found the right people, and was in the right place. The sense of warmth, enthusiasm and passion that emanated off them in waves was overwhelming, and I immediately felt at home. 

Being a part of UniCrew and being involved in the Studio widely has undoubtedly been one of the best parts of my entire year. I can honestly say that UniCrew has contributed towards changing my entire perception of university - what it is to me and what it can provide to others. The incredible people I have met, the conversations that I have had, the things that I have learnt and the opportunities that I have had, have shaped me as a person and changed me for the better. 

University and adult life can feel alienating and harsh, yet walking into the studio feels like coming home. The messages of UniCrew, what it stands for and what it does is like a beacon of light in an otherwise overwhelming and pessimistic society. Being involved in social impact and activism through UniCrew allows students to feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves, and I truly believe that this brings a sense of joy and meaning to our university. News outlets, academics, leaders and peers often spurt out pessimistic and ‘pragmatic’ views, yet UniCrew brings back a sense of optimism and hope for the future. 

I cannot wait to see what the future of the Social Impact Studio and UniCrew holds, and I will be there for every step of the way, getting involved as much as I can in this incredible space. It reminds me to be a better version of myself - to give more, to learn more, to open my mind, connect with others, and most importantly, inspires a deep sense of passion in me for the potential that every single individual has, and what we can do to change the world. 

Ngā mihi nui, Caitlin Blewden