Third year Alex Randle welcomes first year readers with tips for getting the most out of your studies.
The first year can be quite bewildering, but if you are struggling there is always someone who can help so never feel afraid to ask.
When I first started as a student I hadn't heard about what the Society can do, but when I went on placement I was lucky enough to go to Cheltenham and meet two very good reps.
They encouraged me to join them at the SoR Annual Delegates Conference to see how the organisation works. It was really interesting to see how much work goes into making decisions and including students and members in the Society's work.
I am passionate about getting the student voice heard in radiography. Some people in the profession have an attitude to students of 'they are only students and what do they know?', but at ADC the Society was willing to listen to student views.
A couple of students even got up and spoke at ADC before delegates. I stood for and was elected as the SoR Student Observer to Council.
This means I am a national rep for students and entitled to attend SoR UK Council meetings, something not even all SoR professional officers can do! It is a great chance to put the student perspective to decision makers in the profession.
The meetings are a closed democratic process for deciding policy and strategy within the Society and improving the services it provides for members.
My position as observer means although I cannot vote on issues, I can participate in the discussions and influence decisions.
I have attended three meetings so far. Not much of the debate I have witnessed has been focused specifically on students, but I plan to address this area.
The new Facebook page launched by the SoR will offer a chance to do this. It is a place students can get their views out in the open.
If you have concerns then students from other years will be able to use the page to help point you in the right direction.
If your concerns are private there are also SoR student reps in every region who are available to help as a first point of call. There is always someone who can help.
We're in an especially good position as radiography students because of the shortage of radiographers in the UK – it is a good career to be in.
I remember when you first start on placement you feel like you don't know anything, but you know more than you think. As time goes on you get more confidence from dealing with patients.
I really enjoy the patient contact in my placement, I find myself really looking forward to the work. It is definitely the best part of the job for me, it makes all the work you do in your studies worthwhile.
So stick with it!
To find out more about SoR student support or becoming a rep visit the SoR website.
Alex Randle is a third year diagnostic imaging student studying at University of the West of England (UWE) whilst also working as an Assistant Practitioner at Gloucester Royal Hospital. Alex is also the Student Observer to the SoR UK Council for 2009/10.
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