Bringing student life to life: Meet our Student Experience Officer

From planning exciting trips to creating inclusive, engaging events across campus, our Student Experience Officer (SEO) plays a vital role in shaping student life beyond the classroom.

We sat down with our new SEO, Scarlett Whittle, to talk about her journey into the role, her passion for student wellbeing, and what she’s got planned to make college life even more vibrant, welcoming, and fun.

What drew you to the role and what are you most excited about?

I was a house parent in my last role, so I worked with students after school rather than during. I saw them when they were most vulnerable and looking to unwind. I enjoyed every single moment of it, the students were so lovely. That experience made me realise I wanted to be in a role where I could create more events for students. I understand that sometimes they get bored or don’t know what to do. I used to come up with ideas, like cooking sessions, but now being in a role where I actually get to decide what they can do is brilliant.

For students that might not know, what is a Student Experience Officer and how can you help them during their time at College?

I create events for the College and students, and I advertise them as much as I can. I’m also here to listen and to find out what everyone wants. So, if you have an idea, even if you think it’s a bit out there, come and find me! I’ll see what I can do and whether we can make it happen.

You’re involved in organising trips and events – is there anything fun coming up that the students can look forward to?

We’ve got a lot coming up! We’re currently planning for Pride and looking at doing two separate things, including a potential trip to Canterbury’s Pride event. The Junior College is hoping to do a Dreamland trip too. Then we’ve got Freshers in September and the Student Celebration Day which will be great fun.

What do you think makes a great student experience outside of lessons? How do you plan to bring that to life at College?

Lessons are, of course, important for learning and focus. However outside of lessons, some students don’t always know what activities or events are happening, or they think about joining in but never actually do it. That’s why there needs to be someone actively promoting these things, so students feel encouraged to get involved. If I can use events to make things more engaging, especially around employment opportunities and life after college, I think students would take more away from the experience.

How can students get involved in the enrichment activities – is it open to everyone?

Absolutely, it’s open to everyone. I have a weekly meeting with the Student President where we go over ideas and events. He represents the student voice and helps guide what we plan. We also hold student meetings where we talk about what’s been happening and what’s coming up.
If students are interested in getting involved, they can just come and chat with me. I’m based up the windy stairs in the Welcome building – just above the pool table and relaxing area.

What’s one event or activity that you would love to introduce to the College that they might not have done before?

I don’t know if you’ve heard of Hydrox – it’s a high-intensity interval training workout where you try to beat your previous time. I’d love to run a mini version for students. I get that not everyone’s into exercise, but you might give it a go and really enjoy it. It’s great for your physical and mental health and leaves you feeling amazing.

How do you plan to make students feel included and represented in the events that you’re going to be offering?

I’m always open to suggestions from students about how to make College life more inclusive and fun outside of lessons. As I mentioned, we’ve got Pride events coming up and we’re planning for Black History Month too. If students feel certain cultures or communities need better representation, I’d love to learn more about them so we can introduce new events and activities to reflect that.

What would you say to a student who feels nervous or anxious about joining an activity?

I used to be quite anxious when I was younger, especially when it came to trying new things. But often, those new experiences turn out to be the most fun. And if you don’t enjoy it, that’s OK – you don’t have to do it again. But usually, the outcome is good, and you feel proud of yourself for stepping out of your comfort zone. It really helps build confidence.

Do you have any favourite memories from College or University that inspired you to become a Student Experience Officer?

I’ve just finished my second year at University of Kent, I’m studying Sport and Exercise Science. This year we went to the Gymshark Lifting Club which is quite an exclusive gym, and I’d wanted to go for years. It was a weightlifting event and such a fun experience. I love sport, so anything sport related I’m really passionate about.

If you could plan any epic trip or event for everyone at East Kent Colleges, with no limits on what’s possible – what would it be?

This is so hard! If it were just for the girls, I think they’d love their own version of Coachella. But for everyone, I’d go with something travel-focused. Bali is really popular, so I’d probably plan a huge College trip there, or maybe even a tour of multiple countries!

Learn more about our Students’ Union and how you can get involved here.