By Emma Do
When I first met Helen, we were freshers in a small classroom discussing sociology in social policy. Two years later, we finally sat down together again, both of us keen for a much-needed catch-up, now speaking from vastly different perspectives than when we first started university. Helen had finished her term as President of the LSESU 93% Club 23/24 in August and was also a Student Volunteering Ambassador at the LSE Volunteering Centre. Yet, there was one thing that remained unchanged since those early days of sharing our lecture readings: Helen’s unwavering passion for social justice and her big heart for the community. I knew then, as I do now, that she was destined to go far.
Helen is a perfect match for her degree. She is a soft-spoken young woman, yet incredibly determined, as I heard her speak about her experiences volunteering, both before and during LSE. For Helen, choosing LSE and studying Social Policy was a no-brainer. “I think LSE has a community of inspiring leaders who advocate and work towards making a positive impact in the world, and I wanted to be part of it”. Indeed, Helen truly shines in everything she does, whether it is participating in formal discussions or engaging in casual conversations. She is genuinely thrilled to contribute to this community, which now feels like her second home.
We started by mentioning Helen’s first year and getting involved with the LSESU 93% Club. “I first came across the society when I joined LSE. I have always been interested in social inclusivity and mobility and this was one way to work in this area and create a positive impact. The LSESU 93% Club 23/24 was dedicated to state-educated students and those who have faced barriers or adversity during their educational journey. A fundamental principle underpinning all the events was to create a safe space for attendees, where safeguarding and inclusivity were the utmost priorities, and a welcoming sense of belonging was nurtured”. The LSESU 93% Club, which largely went inactive in the academic year 2022/23, saw a transformative shift when Helen became the President. Fact check: they even received the Society of the Year Award for the 23/24 academic year!
“There was one criterion that ultimately decided what events took place and how the society was managed, organised, and run, and that was the members and their needs. Several themes came up, such as imposter syndrome, challenges from the cost of living, community cohesion, access to the arts, and career development, for example. I tried to shape the society during the year to address these areas.”
We specifically discussed the LSE Social Mobility Summit 2024, the first flagship event of its kind at LSE, organised by Helen and Tanzila, the LSESU Class Liberation Officer for 2023/24. The LSE Social Mobility Summit brought together LSE students and representatives from high-profile organisations across different industries. “The event began with inspirational speakers, followed by a networking session providing informal discussion opportunities. During the networking session, complimentary dinner was available for all attendees, as well as stalls from different social mobility-focused charities”. Needless to say, the event was a resounding success, with around 100 attendees and representatives from over 20 organisations, including KPMG, Google, BCG, and PwC.
“When you love what you do, you want to dedicate all your time to it, and that’s how I felt managing the society.” When Helen said that, it truly resonated with me—we’ve both stayed deeply connected to the society we love since our time at LSE began. Balancing academic life while trying to make the most of this experience is a constant juggling act, just a journey of trials and errors. Helen said, “Time management was the biggest challenge as unexpected situations did frequently arise with the society, some requiring immediate attention and consuming all the time I had that day, while others demanded an unexpected amount of long-term commitment that I didn’t plan for at the start of the term.” Yet, Helen managed to do all that, still carving out time for herself and her loved ones.
Naturally, our conversation transcended Helen’s time at LSE. Helen has been a part of the Penpont Project since its launch in 2019. Spanning an impressive 2,000-acre estate, it is the world’s largest intergenerational nature restoration project of its kind. I could hear the excitement in her voice when she talked passionately about the achievement the project has already created, demonstrating how youth leadership and collective action across generations, sectors, and knowledge systems can achieve the intertwined recovery of nature, culture, and community. “In my role I have worked in partnership with farmers, landowners, conservationists, and local stakeholders, to restore habitats and ecosystems and to explore innovative farming and forestry approaches, to provide a healthy support system for people, biodiversity, and agriculture.”
It seems like for Helen, volunteering has been an unmoveable part of her life, a goal that she has been faithful to, her letter to the community written with love and dedication. During our conversation, Helen reflected on her volunteering journey which started back in middle school. “I always get emotional when I talk about the impact of the [Penpont] project on my life. Visiting the Penpont Estate and being involved in such a positive initiative with amazing people, provided a light in my life during some tough times in my school years. In terms of personal growth, I would not be where I am or the person I am today without it.” It is clear that through her volunteer work, Helen has not only contributed to her community but also experienced profound personal growth. Her dedication serves as a reminder that volunteering is not just about giving back; it’s also a powerful avenue for self-discovery and transformation.
“There isn’t a one-size fits all approach to volunteering” Helen shared when discussing the sustainability of volunteering, “Not everybody has the capacity to take part, however, steps can be taken to make volunteering opportunities more accessible to a wider range of people”. As an example, she highlighted the LSE Volunteer Centre’s one-off volunteering opportunities for those who don’t feel they can commit to long-term volunteering but can spare a few hours. Helen’s passion for inclusivity in volunteering is why she became a Student Volunteer Ambassador. Her role is to enable more students to get involved in volunteering during their time at LSE and she has particularly valued the opportunity to design and run her own initiatives for others. “Several times, I have discussed ideas I have for making changes on campus, and they are always willing to provide the support and tools I need to make those ideas happen”. Helen is also a member of the Student Advisory Group, an initiative provided by LSE Careers to ensure the voices of students are represented in their decision-making processes. “I have enjoyed sharing my views, opinions, and experiences on a wide range of strategic and operational aspects of service delivery.”
When I asked Helen about what lies ahead after a successful year, she mentioned that her plan is to embrace her remaining time at LSE and make the most of every moment. “I am really enjoying my degree, so I plan to immerse myself in the study of social policy— I’m particularly excited about conducting research for my dissertation because I really enjoyed my research project last year. I will also enjoy continuing with my ongoing volunteering commitments of course.”
Helen’s advice to student leaders was to “think boldly, but with sensitivity. Innovative ideas come from innovative thinkers, but turning those ideas into positive and transformative initiatives requires a holistic mindset. As a leader, you have a duty of care to those around you, so to me, leadership involves combining visionary thinking with a thorough understanding of intersectional impact.” She added, “My passion for the work I do drives me, and my advice is to lead from the heart and be intuitive. However, it is also essential to ground that intuition in principles, values, and a commitment to best practices. Together, these elements create a powerful foundation for positive change.”
In her final remarks, when I asked what message she would give to incoming students, Helen said, “There are so many opportunities at LSE, but it’s impossible to do everything. It is easy to experience FOMO, so it’s important to stay true to yourself and pursue what truly interests you. Don’t hesitate to get involved in student life, particularly societies and volunteering, as these provide amazing opportunities for personal and professional growth. And have the courage to try something new or maybe even initiate something new – LSE provides a wonderful learning environment in so many ways, so make the most of it!”
Photography by Oliver Chan
