I AM the president of Oxford University Student Union (OUSU) – elected by students to serve for a year as their lead representative to the university, the local community and Westminster.

I’ve been in Oxford as a student for more than three years now, and I’ve loved studying and living in the city.

OUSU exists to represent, support and enhance the lives of Oxford students and make sure that they’re at the heart of decisions made by the university.

Born out of a protest at the university’s decision to ban the publication of lecture reviews over four decades ago, the student union has since won time and time again for its members, including the right to re-sit first year exams, cheaper gowns, and the best financial support in the country for underprivileged students.

Not bad for an organisation run by a bunch of people barely out of their teens.

I ran to be OUSU president because students are facing unprecedented challenges: trebled fees, rising living costs and an uncertain graduate jobs market.

Student politics has never been more important.

But it is not all focused on our own interests – OUSU also works hard to improve relations between our student members and the community.

It’s important that students have a positive impact in the community in which they live.

Our students are some of the most talented and passionate young people in the country, and I’m proud of the work they do outside of the library to drive social change.

Oxford students last year raised more than £100,000 for charities, including the local children’s hospice, Helen and Douglas House.

This year we’re aiming to break that record and we’ll be supporting the Oxford Food Bank as one of our main charities.

Although students only spend a few years in Oxford, they do come to see it as their home and care a lot about the local community.

Our popular community warden scheme involves students going out on the doorstep in East Oxford and Jericho, talking to local residents about their student neighbours and working to make sure that relations between students and locals are always improving.

Additionally, our students get involved in helping young children with their reading and maths skills in local primary schools, giving back some of the great opportunities for learning they have the privilege of being part of.

This week is Freshers’ Week, which happens in what we call ‘0th week’ – the week before Michaelmas Term begins.

Around 3,200 new undergraduates will be arriving in the city this week to commence their studies and will be settling into their new home – so don’t be surprised if someone stops you and asks for directions.

Colleges run freshers’ events to help integrate the newcomers into college and Oxford life, and students organise social events within their colleges to welcome the new first years.

OUSU also runs an annual Freshers’ Fair where more than450 student societies, ranging from the Harry Potter Society to the football teams, advertise themselves to the new students.

It’s a really exciting time of year for us as we have the opportunity to meet all of our new members.

It’s going to be an incredibly exciting year and I know that I’m incredibly lucky to be able to say that I love coming into work every day.

Let’s just hope it stays that way.