Meet Your Excos—Social Secretary
An Exclusive Interview with Samson James
As we conclude the first half of the session, it’s only right for us to get to know our excos personally and see what they’ve been up to so far and their plans for the rest of the session. In this article, we had a sit down with Samson James, our faculty’s Social Secretary.
This interview has been shortened and edited for clarity
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am James Samson, a 500 level Chemical Engineering student. I am also the social secretary for ULES. I am an easygoing person, fun to be with, and a go-getter.
What inspired you to pursue your role as a ULES Executive?
Right from my 100-level days, I took up volunteering roles within the faculty which made me learn and fall in love with ULES as a whole. My inspiration would be my predecessors; I had the privilege of working with all of them, so I was sure I would be the right fit for this post. Like I said, I also love ULES, so I wanted to give back to the body that had helped me a lot.
Who would you name as your role models or influencers?
My biggest influencers are my parents. But if there is someone who I look up to outside my family, it would be David Adeleke (Davido).
What experiences or milestones have shaped your journey or that you're most proud of?
My recent milestone would be the social night that happened in first semester; I'm sure we can admit it was a blast. Amongst others would be being the Head of Publicity for various engineering-led programs like ECX, PAADC, ULES Games, ULES Dinner, and Awards Night
Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives within the faculty you are excited about?
Yes, a whole lot. I can assure you the current executives are cooking, just be patient and you'll see them unfold. From my own end, let me give a little teaser and say that this year's faculty week will be lit.
How do you balance school, exco duties and your personal life?
I multitask pretty well, and I have experienced different situations that have helped me learn to balance it all pretty well, while still delivering my best. The world is a better place with calendars now. So, planning my schedule helps a lot.
Can you share any favourite books, podcasts, or articles that have had a significant impact on you?
Yeah, I read books by John Maxwell a lot. He has helped shape me to be a better person, as well as handle leadership positions well.
What do you hope to accomplish in this academic session?
Apart from delivering A-class social events to ULESites, I also want to finish my final lap on a good note.
We all know how demanding engineering can be, has there been any moment where things were tough academically and how did you navigate that?
There was a time when I had exams back to back from Monday to Thursday. I was worn out. The only thing that kept me going was constantly reminding myself to take each day one step at a time.
What was your Welcome to the Faculty of Engineering moment?
I have had a lot ooo,but one memorable one was my GEG 113 test. I was used to reading just my notes to prepare for tests; lol. I didn’t know we needed past questions to survive over here.
What will you say is the significance of social events in the life of an average student?
All work and no play they say makes Jack a dull boy. Social events give room for students to connect in a non-academic field. Explore talents within the faculty and also unwind from the academic tension.
In the past, some students felt left out when it comes to social activities. How do you intend to carry all students along and make them feel included in the different social activities that happen in our faculty?
I intend to carry everyone along to my utmost best. Every committee I have formed has included people from different levels, departments and gender. I also ensure to make the faculty week more inclusive by carrying the lower levels along. Just watch out.