A two-day annual getaway on the 12th and 13th of February 2024 organized by the student community staff, took the W’SUP team away from campus and into Hawkesbury Valley’s gorgeous Crowne Plaza hotel. This was the perfect breath of fresh air they needed to revive their spirits.
The retreat was exclusive to Student Leaders of the university and executives from the Student Representative Council, as well as the University’s many clubs and associations, were also present to take part in this rewarding experience.
Activities in the retreat were tailored to develop their leadership skills and allow them to network with each other, but there was so much room for fun as well! For the W’SUP team especially, this was an amazing opportunity to collaborate with fellow students and rejuvenate their connections.
With its sweeping lawns, shimmering lake, delicious food, exquisite rooms and alluring pool, the venue was the perfect setting for the exciting memories that were made, as well as the learning and growth of the team as they harnessed their potential as representatives to their peers.
Ray, who is W’SUP’s Social Media Officer, was especially touched by his experience at the retreat. Ray says.
“For the first time since I’ve moved to Sydney over an year ago had I felt that I found my people. Everyone was weird and annoying and passionate about the strangest things (just like me).”
His experience seems to have changed his life in Sydney. According to Ray, the retreat not only inspired supporting other’s success but also equipped student leaders with tools to create a community and made them realize why taking initiative is a worthy cause.
Luci, one of W’SUP’s Editors, has a similar take. He describes how the retreat was a fun opportunity to socialize and get to know his teammates and is excited to move forward with this new found sense of comradery and familiarity.
Luci adds, “What I found valuable during the workshops for my role and myself was learning how to network and understanding having to develop a proper action plan and setting clear goals.”
He believes these are important for forging connections that could be pathways for inter-club collaborations.
Speaking of collaborations, Julia, a long standing W’SUP Editor, elaborates on how the growing popularity of student clubs and organizations makes it all the more important that W’SUP works together with them.
She says that the retreat provided an opportunity to meet such club members who are already involved in the community and create a blueprint for upcoming content.
Julia shares her thoughts by saying, “clubs can pool their resources, creativity, and expertise to create engaging and diverse content that resonates with a wider audience.”
She is certain that this is a huge step forward in elevating W’SUP’s work as this will not only enhance the student experience by sharing their voice, but will also build a sense of unity within campus.
Nataša, W’SUP’s Acting Director of Student Publications, is also very enthusiastic about the connections she acquired during the retreat and the impact this has on her interest in journalism.
She shares her insight on what she learnt during the workshop conducted by Josh Farr on day one of the retreat, “I learned how valuable and useful it is to be able to verbally communicate with others.”
Nataša says that talking to peers and clients is a chance to identify issues that could hinder their potential and let them know you can help find solutions.
She further adds, “I found that activities outside of class and work – such as workshopping ideas for fun content, and talking about hobbies – help build solid relationships, and can last all through your uni life”
Looking back on the retreat and hearing my fellow W’SUP teammates experiences and reflections, I cannot agree more: The student leaders’ retreat was indeed an amazing space for discovering community and building connections.
The stunning aesthetic of the hotel and its surrounds created beautiful memories that I captured in photographs. The skills we learned and the connections we created, and the fun we had during those two days were beautiful and will certainly prove to be long-lasting.
Shabnam Siddique is a poet, writer and mixed-media artist. Her work often has a poetic-style and portrays self-reflection, conversations about emotions, human experiences and little things in life.
Shabnam is currently following her Masters degree in psychotherapy and counselling at Western Sydney University and is in her final year of training to be a therapist.
She is also finalizing the manuscript of her debut poetry collection.
