Class of 2024: Gemma Smith

A desire to make a difference in the world and an interest in sustainability made Essex the obvious choice for Gemma Smith, and she has taken every opportunity to get involved during her time at university.

Gemma, from Bedfordshire, is graduating with BA Social Change. She chose Essex because it is the only university to offer such a course and because it offered her the chance to focus on her two biggest interests: sustainability and community action.

Throughout her time at Essex, Gemma has been a keen volunteer, focusing on projects that align to her course.

Drawing on previous experience as a student at the Fashion Retail Academy, Gemma was made project leader at the clothing exchange, a student-run, pop-up, second-hand clothes shop which raises money for various charities. In her first year as project leader the team raised over £1,400 and more recently, they raised £400 in one sale alone.

Speaking about the experience, she said: “Running it was an empowering experience which gave me so many skills which I aim to carry forward into my endeavours in community-based action.”

She’s also been involved, as a session leader, with the animal protection and green thumbs gardening society volunteering teams.

As well as volunteering, Gemma took the opportunity to develop her sustainability knowledge through a work placement at Spains Hall Estate, in Finchingfield, where land is being re-wilded and beavers are used for natural flood management.

During the placement, Gemma helped with surveying, including a butterfly count, and biodiversity monitoring.

“I learnt a lot about agriculture, species and hedgerows, and how to re-wild farmland and protect ancient trees,” she said.

“The most memorable thing was looking at a green space and being able to identify so many different species of grass, flowers, and insects, just in one small space,” she added.

Gemma, who plans to stay at Essex to study creative writing after graduation, cites Professor Jane Hindley as her most inspirational Essex lecturer.

“She is so determined in her efforts to advocate and further efforts in sustainability. She has always asked about the volunteering projects I am doing and suggests helpful ideas on how to better them,” explained Gemma, who also took part in and volunteered at a sustainability summer school organised by Professor Hindley.

Gemma, who met her partner, Ben on the first day she arrived at Essex, says she would recommend the University to others because of its “good sense of community and varied volunteering, societies and clubs,” and because “it is a very diverse university with people with different stories to tell and different perspectives on the world.”