Mychelle Pride is a lifelong student who can’t get enough of Student Hub Live. Her role at the University is the Academic Lead for Access, Participation and Success in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies.
“SHL can give students a sense of belonging and help them build their own study communities. And it doesn’t matter where you come from, what you are studying, your age or who you are.” – SHL blog
Besides my husband, the two amazing people I know I could call on anytime, anywhere, anyhow for any reason are Christian and Jeff. Christian is Italian, lives in Italy, was raised Catholic, studied Economics at University, is not a sport lover and is one of the quietist people I know. Jeff is American, lives in Minnesota, raised Mennonite, studied Law at University, is super sporty and has six children!!! I was born in New Zealand, raised without religion, live in England, studied Scandinavian Studies and Russian at University, am medium sporty, and never stop talking. I have no children. Despite different personalities and backgrounds, we became the best of friends and to this day, remain the best of friends.
From left to right: Greg, Christian, Jeff and me on a road trip to another friend, Andy, far right
Christian was the very first person I met at University. We formed our friendship over a book he read while travelling from Italy. I still have that very book, 32 years later. The book had nothing to do with our studies. Christian and I worked in the Uni refectory with Greg. Greg was Jeff’s dorm roommate – in the States, you often share dorm rooms, particularly in the first year. Greg was American, from Minnesota, Lutheran, studied Sociology, tried to be sporty and was antsy. Greg introduced us to Jeff. The four of us were tight. We were connected. Together we formed a sense of belonging at Uni. We formed a little community. We helped each other with our studies, our romantic lives, our cooking and much more. When one of us was down or struggling, the others helped. And absolutely, we annoyed one another, and we argued at times. Overall, our group was fun, quirky, dynamic, conversational, open, vibrant, and accepting.
Greg in 1989
Our lives changed dramatically in one instance. Whilst we were at University, Greg was killed by a drunk driver. Greg’s death hit us each in different ways, regardless it was devastating. I remember returning to the one class we shared to an empty seat next to me. Understandably Greg’s death has stayed with us. We came together in London 28 years later with our spouses and with Greg’s mother and brother to celebrate what would have been his 50th birthday. In some ways, it took us straight back to being uni students. That week was fun, quirky, dynamic, conversational, open, vibrant, and accepting.
Celebrating Greg’s 50th in London. Christian in the middle in blue. Jeff to his left in gray. Me hiding in the back behind my husband in red.
So, what does this have to do with Student Hub Live (SHL)? I have been very lucky to be on the sofa and the social media desk several times. I love the chat box. The banter is great. The banter is about everything from the topic at hand, top study tips and almost always includes cats, dogs, cakes, and stationery. I have watched students connect with one another. I have watched students share their fears, experiences, and success in a safe and friendly space. I have seen students come back repeatedly to get their SHL fix. SHL is fun, quirky, dynamic, conversational, open, vibrant, and accepting.
For some students, SHL is their first interaction with other students at the OU. This is the opportunity to meet their Christian. I can imagine one student sharing a virtual book with another student and that book remaining on the virtual bookshelf for years. I can imagine someone meeting other students through someone they have met on SHL and then being friends for life, just like Jeff. SHL can give students a sense of belonging and help them build their own study communities. And it doesn’t matter where you come from, what you are studying, your age or who you are. You will fit in and you might even find friends. I imagine students making connections and staying in touch, sharing their ups and downs as they progress through their study, motivating one another to keep going and complete their qualifications. And, when we are able, to go to a physical graduation together. Now that would be fun, quirky, dynamic, conversational, open, vibrant and accepting, just like Student Hub Live!
Me, on the right, looking far too serious for SHL!