SU Postgraduate and International Officer - Mercy

So... I Spoke at Graduation.

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:41:44 +0100

Things I definitely didn't expect in my first month as your Postgraduate and International Officer.

When I accepted the role of The Students' Union Postgraduate and International Officer, I knew it would be an incredible opportunity to advocate for postgraduate and international students, work alongside colleagues across the University, and hopefully make a positive difference to students' experiences.

What I did not anticipate was just how much the role would shape me too.

Less than a month into the role, I found myself doing something I never imagined I would do.

Standing on the stage at the University of Bath graduation ceremonies.

Not as a graduate. Not as a guest.

But as one of the people welcoming hundreds of students as they celebrated one of the biggest milestones of their lives.

If you had told me a few years ago that this would happen, I probably would have laughed.

Why graduation means so much to me

Graduation has always carried a special meaning for me.

In 2021, I moved to the UK to study for an MSc in Development and Security at the University of Bristol.

I graduated in September 2022, but I had already returned home in January, just two weeks before my graduation ceremony. Instead of celebrating with my classmates, I watched the ceremony through a livestream.

I remember feeling incredibly proud, but also a little heartbroken.

Everyone else was celebrating together while I was thousands of miles away. I wanted to wear the gown, walk across the stage, take the photographs, and celebrate with my classmates.

Over time, I made peace with missing that moment. I accepted that I would probably never wear my master's gown and that the next academic robe I would wear would, hopefully, be my PhD gown one day.

Then life surprised me.

As part of our role as The Students' Union Officers, we attend graduation ceremonies. Because I had submitted my PhD thesis but had not yet completed my viva, my highest awarded qualification was still my master's degree.

The University of Bath kindly arranged for my official master's gown from the University of Bristol.

Just like that, I was given the opportunity to experience a graduation moment that I thought I had lost forever.

For two days, I wore a gown I never imagined I would have the chance to wear.

It may seem like a small thing, but for me it represented so much more than academic dress. It represented closure. It represented celebration. Most of all, it represented a moment I had quietly grieved but never thought I would get back.

Some moments arrive years later than we expect, but they are no less meaningful when they finally do.

Speaking at graduation

Then came another unforgettable first.

I was invited to give The Students' Union graduation speech.

Now, if you know me, you will know that I enjoy public speaking. I have taught classes, presented at conferences, facilitated workshops, and spent the last few years talking about my research.

But this felt different.

This was not about presenting my work.

This was about representing students during one of the most significant moments of their university journey.

I was excited. I was honoured.

And yes... I was nervous.

I must have read my speech more times than I care to admit. For two weeks, I read it every morning and practised it on every Officer who was too kind to tell me no... sorry, Nic.

Standing behind the stage, waiting to process into the Abbey, I remember taking a deep breath and thinking,

"This is actually happening."

One of my favourite moments in the speech was saying these words:

"If there is one thing I hope you leave with today, it is this: the most meaningful journeys are rarely travelled alone. We become who we are through the people who walk alongside us. So, as you step into whatever comes next, remember not only what you achieved here, but who you became because of the people you met, the communities you joined, and the kindness you both received and gave."

Standing there, looking out at the graduates, I realised those words were not just for them.

They were for me too.

As I spoke those words, I realised they described my own journey just as much as they described the graduates' journey.

Over the past few years, I have been shaped by supervisors, friends, colleagues, mentors, students, and communities who believed in me long before I fully believed in myself. Becoming your Postgraduate and International Officer is another chapter of that journey, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by people who continue to challenge, encourage, and support me every day.

The bits you don't see

One of the unexpected joys of this role has been seeing everything that happens behind the scenes.

Walking in the academic procession was surreal.

There is something incredibly special about standing backstage, watching colleagues from across the University line up in their academic robes before processing into the Abbey. The history, the tradition, the excitement, and the sense of occasion all come together in a way that is difficult to describe.

It felt... majestic.

There is something about watching hundreds of academics in colourful robes process together that makes you appreciate the history and significance of the occasion.

For a moment, I found myself looking around and thinking,

"How on earth did I get here?"

Then came another unexpected highlight.

I got to hold the ceremonial mace backstage.

I know.

Not something I ever imagined would be on my list of life experiences.

It was one of those wonderfully random moments that only this role could give you.

Moments like this remind me that working for The Students' Union is not only about representing students. It is also about saying yes to opportunities that help me grow into a better representative for them.

I also had the opportunity to spend time with many of the University's senior leaders throughout the ceremonies. As someone who was new to the role, I really appreciated how welcoming and approachable everyone was. The Vice-Chancellor, the Pro-Vice-Chancellors, and colleagues across the University were all incredibly kind, making what could have felt like an intimidating environment feel genuinely warm and supportive.

As someone who had only ever seen many of them from the audience or on University webpages, sitting alongside them backstage was a reminder of how many unexpected opportunities this role has already opened up for me.

Those interactions reminded me that, behind every grand ceremony and institutional tradition, there are people who care deeply about celebrating students and making these moments memorable.

Growing alongside the role

One thing I have realised already is that this role is developing me just as much as I hope to contribute to it.

Every week seems to bring a new opportunity that pushes me outside my comfort zone.

One week I am speaking at graduation.

The next I am sitting in University committees.

Before I know it, I am working with colleagues across The Students' Union and the University on projects that I hope will improve the experience of postgraduate and international students.

I am learning how decisions are made.

I am becoming a more confident public speaker.

I am building relationships with people I never imagined I would meet.

Most importantly, I am learning that growth often comes from saying yes to opportunities before you feel completely ready.

For that, I am incredibly grateful.

Working for The Students' Union has already given me opportunities that I never imagined I would have, and I know this is only the beginning. I am genuinely excited to continue learning, developing, and representing the incredible postgraduate and international student community at Bath.

Congratulations, Class of 2026

Finally, to everyone who graduated this summer, congratulations.

Whether this was your bachelor's degree, master's degree, doctorate, or another milestone in your journey, I hope you take time to celebrate everything it took to get here.

And to the families, friends, supervisors, colleagues, and loved ones who celebrated alongside our graduates, thank you. Your encouragement, patience, and belief have undoubtedly been part of their success.

As I said to the Class of 2026:

"Graduation is not simply an ending. It is the beginning of another chapter."

Looking back over the past month, I realise that those words apply to me as well.

Becoming your Postgraduate and International Officer is one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I cannot wait to see what this chapter holds.

One more graduation still awaits me.

In January, all being well, I will return to this ceremony wearing a different robe for my PhD graduation. As a first-generation PhD graduate, and the first person in my immediate and extended family to achieve a doctorate, I already know there will be tears.

Quite a lot of them, if I'm being honest.

But that is a story for another blog.

Some moments arrive years later than we expect, but they are no less meaningful when they finally do.

Some dreams don't happen the way you imagined. Sometimes, they happen in ways you never imagined possible.

Until next time,

Mercy Martins

The SU Postgraduate and International Officer

Let's Spill the Tea

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:30:14 +0100

Your Postgraduate and International Officer Gives You the Real Gist

Hello everyone!

My name is Mercy, and I am your new Postgraduate and International Officer at The Students' Union.

This is my very first blog, so I thought this would be the perfect place to introduce myself, tell you a little about who I am, what life as an Officer has been like so far, and, of course, spill a little tea.

Ready? Let's go.

The boring bits (or at least I'll pretend they're boring)

My full name is Mercy Onyemaechi Martins, and I'm from Nigeria.

I recently completed my PhD in the Department of Education here at the University of Bath. Before that, I completed my master's degree in Development and Security at the University of Bristol.

I also turned 29 this year... which apparently means I have now entered the age where I make noises every time I stand up. Who knew?

Before becoming an Officer, I somehow kept saying yes to opportunities. I was a Departmental Academic Representative, then a Faculty Academic Representative (promotion unlocked!), a Peer Mentor, a Graduate Teaching Assistant (and recently became an Associate Fellow of Advance HE, which still feels surreal), and worked as a Research Assistant on several projects.

Outside work, I am a complete fantasy nerd.

Give me dragons, magic, romance, impossible quests, morally grey characters, and I am happy. Taylor Swift also dominates my playlists, which probably tells you everything you need to know about me.

I also enjoy board games, although I should clarify that I mean Monopoly, Cluedo, Connect 4 and Scrabble. Don't invite me to one of those complicated strategy games that requires reading a 45-page rulebook. I simply don't have the capacity.

I also crochet and make beaded jewellery, which is my way of convincing myself that I have hobbies outside reading.

So... how did I end up here?

If I'm being honest, I applied for this role with a lot of uncertainty.

Would you believe me if I told you that, for the longest time, I didn't even realise I was technically working with the Students' Union?

I was a Peer Mentor.

I was an Academic Representative.

Yet somehow, I never fully connected the dots.

Maybe my glasses weren't doing enough.

Campaigning was... an experience.

There were questionable TikToks.

There were dance moves that permanently reduced my aura.

There were moments where I genuinely questioned every life decision that had brought me there.

And then...

I won.

By 21 votes.

A close enough result that, as we say in Nigeria, perhaps my village people decided to help me this one time. (If you know, you know.)

So, what's the tea?

I've now been in the role for almost two months.

The first two weeks were our induction programme, where we learnt everything there is to know about The SU, our responsibilities as Officers and Trustees, and all the important things that adults call governance.

Thankfully, the outgoing Officers made sure it wasn't all PowerPoint presentations.

We had a dress-up day, where I came as Barbie. Honestly, after everything you've learnt about me so far, was anyone expecting anything different?

There was a barbecue, an end-of-year party, and yes... there was free vegan ice cream.

That may or may not have been one of the highlights.

After induction, everything became a blur of meetings.

University meetings.

Team meetings.

Introduction meetings.

Manifesto meetings.

Planning meetings.

I think I have introduced myself so many times that saying "Hi, I'm Mercy..." has become muscle memory.

All of this happened during one of the hottest weeks of the year.

Which is funny because I'm Nigerian.

Everyone kept asking me how I was coping with the heat.

Honestly? I wasn't.

There is currently a fan on my desk doing everything in its power to keep me alive.

Perhaps this is part of internationalisation.

What have I actually been working on?

Quite a lot, actually.

One of the things I have enjoyed most is meeting different teams across both The SU and the University to start turning manifesto ideas into real projects.

Some of the work so far includes:

Working with the Doctoral College and Doctoral Academic Representatives, which has led to the creation of a brand-new Doctoral Society focused on building community and representation for doctoral researchers.
Supporting the final stages of the University's supervision paper alongside colleagues from the Doctoral College.
Working with the International Team and the Doctoral College to improve pre-arrival support for international and doctoral students.
Supporting the Postgraduate Summer Party (although, if I'm honest, the previous Officer and the team deserve most of the credit. I mostly turned up, introduced myself, and dotted a few i's.)

I've also met with colleagues from Careers, Peer Mentoring, Voice, Marketing, Social Enterprise, Academic Representation, and so many other teams.

One thing I've learnt very quickly is just how many incredible people work behind the scenes to make the student experience better.

Some thank yous

I have to give a huge thank you to Sanya for an incredible handover.

She invested so much time in making sure I felt prepared, and I'm excited to continue building on the fantastic work she started.

A massive thank you also goes to our President and Education Officer. As returning Officers, they have been incredibly generous with their time, answering endless questions and helping us settle into our roles.

And to the rest of our Officer team, especially Activities, Community, and Sport, thank you for making these first few weeks so enjoyable. We've all been figuring things out together, and it's made a huge difference.

Random things I didn't know before becoming an Officer

Since this blog is called Let's Spill the Tea, here are a few random discoveries.

Did you know I am the very first Postgraduate and International Officer? I think that's incredibly exciting because it shows the Students' Union's commitment to representing postgraduate and international students.

Did you know there are so many different teams within The SU? Honestly, I thought it was just Officers and a handful of staff. I was very, very wrong.

Did you know Officers have line managers...

...but we're also technically our line manager's boss because we're elected trustees?

Don't ask me to explain it.

Ask Helen.

She understands all the governance and policy bits.

Finally...

Did you know that being an Officer does not get you free drinks at The Plug?

I was disappointed too.

Until next time...

I'm hoping to make this a regular blog, so if there is anything you would like me to write about, let me know.

Before I go, I also want to give a special shout-out to all our Doctoral Academic Representatives and Postgraduate Network Representatives. Thank you for everything you do to represent your fellow students.

And finally...

If you ever see me around campus, please come and say hello.

I promise I'm friendly.

My face just occasionally forgets to tell people that.

(I'm blaming the PhD.)

See you next time.

Mercy