Young people often get a negative portrayal in the media, with television programmes like the Secret Life of Students, Freshers and Fresh Meat accused of portraying students according to unflattering stereotypes.
Lizzie Roberts, a recent graduate of Lancaster University, wrote a blog on the issue. She says: “Every fly-on-the-wall documentary or dramatic representation of British students casts the same collection of characters; the lad, the slut, the introvert and the geek.”
What often gets overlooked is that many students are working hard to change the world around them for the better: from the students who are involved in volunteering, to the entrepreneurs and the digital innovators.
That’s why we’re launching a new series that will explore the ways in which students are making a positive impact.
Students are more politically engaged than ever before, according to the National Union of Students (NUS), with nearly two thirds recently saying they would vote if there was an election tomorrow.
And they’re not just engaged in party politics and the general election. Toni Pearce, president of NUS, says: “Students really care about issues and are engaged in the politics of their real lives.”
That’s true of the young people who are volunteering for a cause they care about, who are involved in student media, or who are taking to the streets to get politicians to listen to their demands.
Some, but by no means all, of the issues we’ll cover in our new series, include:
- Students’ role in politics
- Student feminism
- Entrepreneurs
- Digitally savvy students
- Sustainable living for students
- Student volunteering and community work
If you’re doing anything that you’d like to share with us, we’d love to hear about it. You can tweet us at @gdnstudents, or email abby.young-powell@theguardian.com.
We look forward to hearing what you’ve been up to.
