Chloé Elliott

What made you want to apply to your course and to Leeds?

I applied to Leeds because it is well-respected and ranks highly. I have always loved languages, so when I found out that one of my language teachers at secondary school was an alumnus of the university, it seemed like a good fit. There’s some distance between Leeds and my hometown that I could have some freedom but with good transport links so that I could visit home easily. Leeds also has a lot to offer for students coming from all over the country. There’s plenty to do in the city for those who are used to busier lifestyles, as well as quiet places to retreat and take some time out on the weekends and in the holidays. I chose to read French & German as they were my strongest languages and Leeds offered the opportunity to visit both France and Germany as part of the degree programme.

Please tell us more about your Equality and Diversity Officer Campaign and new position.

I made the decision to run in the Lead LUU election when I was in my second year, but as I was due to set off on my term abroad in France and my year abroad in Germany, I postponed running until my final year. My campaign was successful and I was elected as the next Equality & Diversity Officer for LUU. I thoroughly enjoyed the campaign experience; it is one of the most challenging and most rewarding experiences I’ve had during my university career. I am honoured that our student community believed in me and my manifesto enough to support me during the election. I am going to spend the incoming academic year working towards providing more support for BAME, LGBT and disabled students who are pursuing study abroad options and I will also be lobbying the university to join the Race Equality Charter.

Did you take a work placement or study abroad year? If so, how did you find this experience and what have you gained from it?

I have had the opportunity to study and work abroad during my time at Leeds. I spent the summer term of my second year studying in Lille, France and my third year working as a foreign language assistant in Düsseldorf, Germany. These experiences allowed me to venture out of my comfort zone and push myself further both academically and personally. Whether it was house hunting, travelling around the country or talking to locals. Both situations presented their challenges but, I am now more capable of adapting to new environments and solving problems because of them. I also used my free-time on my year abroad to set up an online business which has supported me through my final year.

What other activities are you involved in? 

Upon returning from my year abroad, I applied for the Enterprise Scholarship and was successful, making me one of the 18 enterprise scholars of the 2018/19 academic year. I will be using the scholarship funding to expand my online platform which supports and promotes black owned businesses in the afro haircare niche. The funding will also help me to reach a wider audience with my haircare workshops and will allow me to offer more services to my online community.