Anna

Considering the apparent shoe-horned characteristics of the presentation’ given by a PIER Officer at an online Dorset Race Equality Council meeting it’s a wonder you’re reading this…

Having said that I have to concede the past 2.5 years seem to have flown by giving me the opportunity to work on my self-confidence, ongoing fine tuning of my comedic delivery style, meet fellow PIER members, BU staff and 100s of students, some returning to further their education and others starting their careers amidst what feels like for my part, ever increasing physical health challenges.

Being a PIER Member from 2023 has proved to be educational not only when participating in the fantastic research projects Social Work, Nursing, OT & Physiotherapy courses to name but a few. It’s also given me the opportunity to meet and volunteer alongside other PIER members some of whom I would never normally meet and some I actually quite like and have become friends with!

PIER membership has perhaps most importantly enabled me to work on my preconceived notions, misconceptions and ‘ist’ tendencies relating to various health conditions, personal preferences and life choices, it’s also helping me appreciate my neighbours who are mostly students who can frequently be delightful, thought-provoking, funny, kind and caring individuals and not all noisy, selfish, inconsiderate, dirty, dope smoking, drunken fools!