Stella Chen

Interviewed by Marion Lefèvre

What motivated you to run for the Student Rep position?

To be honest, I’m running for Student Rep for… myself. I’m a shy person and I want to change. I don’t want to be shy anymore. Being a Student Rep is interacting a lot with people, so I’m pretty sure it would make me less shy and allow me to do what I really want to do: change the world. Even if it sounds a bit naive, it’s my dream. Also, I want to thank my cohort because by being very outgoing, you made me understood that I have to be outgoing and understand others in order to be able to do what I want to do. It would also be a way tot hank you for that.

Do you have any previous experience, relevant to the Student Rep position… Or not, as you prefer, that you would like to share with us?

I have been Student Rep in high school but it was pretty different. We had two meetings throughout the year and during the meetings, the students did not really speak that much. It wasn’t that close to this position.

What challenges are you expecting to overcome as a Student Rep?

If I didn’t run for Student Rep, I wouldn’t be here… Being interviewed, and well, the challenge to overcome will be more interacting, and more work. These are difficult things that I have to overcome, but I definitely want to do it.

What do you think about the Student Rep campaigning process?

I think it has become a little too much spamming but it is kind of necessary for people to know who the candidates are and who they are voting for. Maybe we could make this less overwhelming.

What is unique about your platform?

It’s hard to have any ideas when you don’t understand the system well, but I guess that everything is about comfort. We are here to study and we need to study in good conditions. I haven’t felt uncomfortable yet, just a few things about the noise in the library, the business of the cafeteria at lunchtime, that kind of very small things… The main focus that a Student Rep needs to have is probably the comfort of the students.

In three words, what is the role of a Student Rep?

Communicating (between the student body and the administration, and within the student body as well), representing (my ideas are a starting point, but I am not exercising power. It’s more doing what people want me to do) and – it would be very personal – thanking.

Miscellaneous question: what are you the proudest of in your hometown?

I’m from a small town in the southern suburbs of Paris. What I really like about this town is that it is small. It’s very calm and has lots of flowers and trees, it’s very natural.

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