You might have seen the 2018 Arc Street Team volunteers in green shirts and big smiles while handing out free food around campus. Their purpose is to make UNSW your home away from home, spreading joy, laughter and good vibes. Brandon has been with the team since Semester 2 2017 and says the team can be described as the student representatives of Arc @ UNSW.
“We are a vibrant, goofy, friendly, energetic bunch of kids. We give out free food regularly throughout the semester to make ourselves approachable for students and use this as an avenue to inform about upcoming events or answer any questions they might have. I think this is a great way to make all students feel included”.
Brandon became a ’Streeter’ as he was looking to get involved in a social activity next to his studies. He found his place with the very positive team and now considers them to be like family. He believes they bonded a lot over nearly weekly socials and impromptu dinners.
Being a senior member of the team, Brandon helped plan and organise events, team activities and social sports. Depending on the week, he would average about 4 hours of volunteering at Street Team events, and the rest of his time between classes to be social with the team. With his dedication to the team, he was awarded the ‘Arc Outstanding Volunteer Award’ for the 2018 Street Team.
In planning and organising events, he had to work closely with his team, follow-up and make sure everyone was on track. Running these events and stepping up when needed, he was able to develop his leadership skills.
“I am usually not the most confident person in the room. Through my role I have realised that I find it more natural to lead by example and engage people in that way. I have also seen the importance of social activities to create a good working environment in a team”.
Brandon would recommend the Street Team especially for students looking for an inclusive environment where you can learn a lot of valuable skills, including leadership, communication and team work. He also mentions it has been a place for him to de-stress between classes and assignments.
“A balanced student life is really important, as we all need a break from studying. Having a good group of friends like Street Team is a great relaxation tool, where you can just take a break, have some fun and gain new energy to hit the books again”.
