Being the new chairman of the Helsingborg branch Agora, Sebastian Kull would like to be seen more often. But he doesn’t intend to stay in Helsingborg for long.
He was not supposed to end up here at all. After finishing school in Trollhättan he was aiming at studies in economy in Lund. But his heart had a different path. – My girlfriend had started to study service management in Helsingborg and at the same time I discovered the city, he says. Some years later he is finishing his last year on the same program. Since this summer he is also the chairman of the Helsingborg branch of the Social Studies’ Union Agora. A commitment that turned out to be more difficult than he at first anticipated.
–It’s tough to know that you don’t have the time to do the work. I spend roughly 20 hours every week on the union, and it is often a lot to think about in combination with school.
–But it’s a very rewarding work. We are a damned good team and to have done something more than studying is a good notch on your resume, he adds quickly.
Want to be more attractive
– Agora is facing the same problems as other unions, Sebastian Kull says. The students are often not aware of what the unions do and how they can be supported during their studies. This is something that Agora is trying to change. – We work to make our brand a little bit more attractive and during the freshmen activities we focused on this, say Sebastian Kull.
From your point of view, which are the major student issues in Helsingborg?
– Most of all the makeover of the school. It is already cramped and at the same time we have to have a renovation. We have to find more space for our studies. Moreover, we will work hard to make SFS (Sveriges Förenade Studentkårer) select Helsingborg the student city of the year.
Many practical advantages
But what makes Helsingborg such a wonderful city for students? According to Sebastian Kull it might not be as much fun as in Lund. But there are more practical advantages.
– The contact with municipality and trade and industry is better and this exchange is very good for the students’ careers. Even so, he is not going to stay in the city when his studies are finished. The homesickness has grown too strong.
– When I am finished my next destination will be Gothenburg, he says firmly.
Text & Photo: Sebastian Hagberg
Trans
lation: Lars Jansson
