My journey to leadership – how King’s 100 helped me build connections and confidence

Undergraduate Biomedical student, Zaynab shares her experience participating in the King's 100 leadership programme. The King’s 100 is a unique opportunity for a diverse group of 100 students to collaborate on student experience projects and initiatives. This position, which is fully paid, allowed Zaynab to work directly with the university, acquire valuable professional skills, and help shape the King's experience for current and future students.

Being part of King’s 100 as a student was a life-changing experience. This was for several reasons, including my own development, meeting new people, and being able to work on exciting projects to improve our university. For example, we could work on various projects, such as diversifying the curriculum and student mental health and wellbeing. Here, we co-created new student hubs where students could go for wellbeing support on and off campus. I also helped to raise more awareness of the support services that King’s offers to allow more students to access support. As a result, I made my student voice heard and implemented new changes to improve our university. I worked with incredible individuals, both students and staff and really developed myself personally and professionally.

The application process, though initially nerve-wracking, was surprisingly smooth. I felt a strong sense of support from the King’s 100 team throughout the application and recruitment process. The main thing to remember is to be yourself and let your passion for change shine through. 

I would recommend that all students get involved in King’s 100. You will be able to use your student voice to make positive changes and work on exciting projects, all while developing yourself and your skills. Impacting the student experience for us all, networking with like-minded individuals, and creating long-lasting relationships were just a few of the many benefits of being part of the programme. It’s an excellent chance for you to work on yourself and our university, leaving behind a great legacy for many generations to come.

My experience throughout the programme was wonderful. I developed and gained skills like confidence, presenting, effective teamwork, active listening, and many more! All of these are transferable, so they’ll be helpful in any career pathway you choose, as well as during your time at King’s.

Even if you are nervous about applying or anxious that you are not confident enough to share your ideas, don’t be. You’ll be well supported by the King’s 100 team from the very start, during onboarding, and throughout your project work. You’ll be given opportunities to share your thoughts and ideas in various ways, so everyone is encouraged and gets a chance to contribute. Also, the King’s 100 team is a diverse mix of students and staff, ensuring that every session and every piece of work you do is unique and refreshing. The diversity of King’s 100 provides a rich and varied experience, making your journey on the programme all the more exciting.

 So, if you want to build your confidence and positively impact the student experience, just go for it. Don’t let your fears get in the way of achieving your dreams!