Dongyuan Zhang

Hello, I am Dongyuan. I'm campaigning to be your next Working Class Officer. With a working class background, I truely felt for the hardship living in Imperial. The college often marginalizes working-class and low-income students, leaving us to struggle with financial pressures, resource inequality, and social barriers. These issues can hugely hinder our academic success and limit our potential.
If elected, My Pledge:

1. More Financial Support: I will advocate for increased bursaries, scholarships, and emergency funds.
2. Better Academic Resources: I will push for free tutoring, mentoring programs, and flexible study options to overcome the academic barriers faced by students balancing work and education.
3. Specialized Mental Health Support: I will ensure that Wellbeing Advisors across all departments receive specialized training to better understand and address the unique psychological challenges faced by working-class students, such as imposter syndrome, social isolation, and cultural barriers. This will ensure our mental health needs are met with sensitivity and care.
4. More Career Opportunities: I will fight for more paid internships, research positions, and career guidance to break down the barriers to professional success for working-class students.
5. Better Inclusivity Policies: I will advocate for anti-discrimination training and greater representation in decision-making to dismantle systemic barriers and create a truly inclusive campus.

Finally, this campaign is about building a fairer, more inclusive Imperial. Vote for me! Working-class students' voices deserve to be heard, and our rights must be respected. We can create a future where every student thrives, regardless of background.