Hello!
My name is Eunice Oladejo, and I’m the Vice President of External Affairs at Western’s University Students’ Council (USC). I just completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction (I know, it’s a mouthful lol). I’m beyond excited to be a member of the 2021/2022 Steering Committee and to also lead the team as the incoming OUSA President!
A little bit about me – I was originally born in Nigeria and lived in America for about 5 years before eventually moving to Canada in 2010. I am an avid Netflix watcher, love clearing my head with a good workout, and am currently trying to get into cooking (it’s not working out so well). Advocacy and political affairs were introduced to me at a pretty young age and stuck with me throughout my secondary and post-secondary education. This had a big influence on my extracurricular activities in school as I sought opportunities that prioritized raising awareness and educating students on local and international issues. I was able to do this during my time as President of WaterAid Western and as a Coordinator of the University Students’ Council Charity Committee.
I first got involved with OUSA as a General Assembly delegate last year and was so inspired by the passion and determination that filled the (virtual) room. Seeing other students that were just as passionate to ignite change filled me with hope and excitement about what we could accomplish together. I wholeheartedly believe in the strength and power of student voices and the ability that we have to make an impact. Our incoming Steering Committee is composed of so many knowledgeable and zealous individuals who are eager to make a difference and I am looking forward to all that we will achieve as a team.
My academic experience, specifically in my 3rd and 4th year, has also influenced my passion for policy and government advocacy as I was able to learn about a number of issues relating to political systems and structures, social movements, and country-to-country relations. This knowledge added to my interests, and I eventually became more involved in advocating for issues surrounding environmental sustainability and climate change, financial aid, and equitable, diverse, and inclusive practices. I intend to continue to prioritize these issues during my time as VP External and in advocacy through OUSA. As well, the pandemic has shown us a number of ways in which lectures and classwork can be made more accessible. I also plan to prioritize this in advocating for increased accessibility of post-secondary education.
As vaccines are rolling out and restrictions are (hopefully) loosening up, I am hopeful for what this year holds. Working from home was definitely manageable for a few months, but I hope to do some face-to-face advocacy as restrictions permit. For now, I’ll sign off from my parents’ house in Ottawa and hopefully next time I’ll be writing from my office in London!
Eunice ☺