Having recently attended the Spirit of Sussex Award (SoSA) undergraduate celebration, I couldn’t wait to share my experience and takeaways from this memorable event. Held on Wednesday 5 June at the Student Centre, it proved to be a day filled with inspiration, camaraderie, and celebration.

What is the Spirit of Sussex Award?

The Spirit of Sussex Award(SoSA) is a programme available to undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University of Sussex, Brighton & Sussex Medical School (BSMS), and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). It celebrates and acknowledges students' extracurricular engagements, such as career readiness activities, volunteering, and participation in student societies, by awarding points toward Bronze, Silver, or Gold Awards.

Beyond recognition, SOSA encourages students to actively engage with their community, fostering connections and exploring new opportunities. It serves as an incentive to enhance job prospects and offers a platform for personal and professional growth. Upon reaching the required points, students receive a University-accredited certificate during their Graduation Ceremony.

Celebrating extracurricular success

Faye Tucknott, Student Engagement Manager, kicked off the day by stating, “Today, we are celebrating students’ excellent work from outside of their studying.” From showcasing involvement in career-readiness activities to highlighting ongoing volunteering efforts with the Buddy Scheme and other extra-curricular activities, SOSA recognises the diverse talents and contributions of students across various disciplines.

Following Faye's introduction, the main event was led by Rania Bouzekraoui, a student connector. From curating to delivering the event, student connectors Rania Bouzekraoui and Ravi Jaiswal actively engaged to provide the most enjoyable and inspiring celebration. Under the Connector Programme, Rania and Ravi are part of the SOSA Engagement and Celebration Project. For three months, they collaborated with staff members to enhance participation and engagement at the annual celebratory logging events for SOSA points, ultimately creating a more enjoyable experience for attending students while also inspiring increased involvement in the SOSA scheme from a broader range of students.

Sussex alumni share their experiences

A guest speaker, Berta Santos, founder and director of Social Impact Newbie, was invited to the celebration. Berta, a former SoSA Gold Award winner during her time at Sussex, now heads her own social enterprise. Throughout her talk, Berta emphasised, “Really find who you are and what you want to do.” By sharing her past experience of struggling with her career path, she encouraged students, stating that it is okay to change your mind every day and not know everything before starting your career.

Berta credited SoSA with helping her find her interests and motivating her to continue extracurricular activities, ultimately leading to her becoming the founder of her own enterprise. She expressed confidence that SOSA would be the most valuable part of students' CVs. Her talk concluded by stressing the importance of networking, a theme echoed throughout the day.

Learning to enjoy networking

Most students understand that networking is crucial for their careers, but they often struggle with reaching out to new people and building relationships. Two other guest speakers, George Grammer-Taylor from Clyde & Co Solicitors and Rev Nair from the University of Sussex emphasised the importance of networking. They advised students to reframe their approach by showing interest in others' pathways and expressing enthusiasm for their achievements, rather than solely focusing on job inquiries. Throughout the discussion, all panellists agreed that SoSA played a crucial role in building their careers, opening doors they never thought possible and providing motivation to challenge themselves.

In terms of maintaining passion, George advised finding what truly motivates you. Berta suggested changing surroundings by attending different speakers’ talks, exploring oneself, and meeting new people will help staying inspired and passionate about your career. The panellists concluded by highlighting the importance of self-care, reminding students to take care of themselves amidst the intensity of job hunting and career building.

After the talk, students enjoyed speed-networking sessions with lunch and free activities. Stalls from Sussex Career and Entrepreneurship, Sussex Connect welcomed students to ask questions and seek career advice. Stalls from The Channel, The Badger, and student stalls introduced and shared their work with students.

The event ended with the distribution of certificates and self-nomination awards to deserving students. Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to reflect on their achievements, connect with peers and professionals, and gain valuable insights into personal and professional development. As they left the celebration, students were filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment, eager to continue their journey of growth and contribution to the university community and beyond.

Get career ready with the Spirit of Sussex Award

If you are a postgraduate student or continuing your study at Sussex, it’s not too late to log your Spirit of Sussex Award points. The deadline for postgraduates to log points is 1 August 2024.

As well as being able to experience a celebration event like this, there are so many benefits to taking part in SoSA, including:

• feeling more involved in life at Sussex
• making friends and building a wider network
• a University accredited certificate
• accessing our alumni and award community
• regular events, workshop and opportunities to meet guest speakers
• enhancing your CV and showcasing your award to future employers
• opportunities to work with the team as speakers or exhibitors
• gaining insights and transferable skills for your development.

Visit the Spirit of Sussex Award platform to log your points. Make your mark and be part of this amazing inspiring community!

Jenny Choi studies Media and Communications. When not blogging or studying, she enjoys strolling around the Brighton Beach area.

Chowdhury Mohammad Sayedul Abrar (Abrar) is studying for an MA in Journalism and Documentary Practice.