Quite often after being involved in AEGEE work on full-time basis, lots of AEGEE members are leaving AEGEE “to get some rest”. However, the candidate for Chair Team Alla Resheten, whose name is usually followed by countless AEGEE titles, is not tired. “How you can be tired from something you thoroughly enjoy?”, says Alla. The AEGEEan was lucky enough to catch her in minutes of rest from thousands of tasks and ask a few questions.
The AEGEEan: Dear Alla, congratulations with your candidature for Chair Team! As a well-known person in AEGEE, active in organisation for a while now, please tell us, after one year spent in the Comité Directeur (CD) and working full-time in AEGEE as Secretary General, how did you not get “AEGEE allergy” and you remained an active member?
Alla as the Secretary General during the Spring Agora Alicante
Alla: Thank you! It is a good question. Indeed, 90% of CD members leave AEGEE right at the end of their term or become just “visiting from time to time” members of their locals. I think it all depends a lot on the team you were working and living with for one year and all other people you have shared this year of incredible experiences with. I was very lucky to work with incredible people who have became not only my AEGEE friends, but also friends for my life beyond AEGEE. And for such people I am still in AEGEE and willing to give back more to this organisation.
Interesting fact that not everybody knows – our team (the Comité Directeur 2010-2011) was really exceptional; we are the only ones who managed to finish the term with the same people we started with! And almost all of us have stayed pretty involved in the fields we were working on during our term.
Why did you decide to candidate for the Chair Team? Why not Network Commission or SUCT?
It is very simple – I love to do this work! Of course, a lot depends on the team that I will work with in case I am elected, but on the other hand my background as Secretary General and Local Organiser of the Autumn Agora Kyiv in 2009 will be very handy for everyone working in the team.
Tell us, please, how do you prepare yourself for Agora Budapest and presenting your candidature in front of 800 people?
A lot of people with whom I have worked within last years in AEGEE are supporting me in my decision. Their trust in me and my work is one of the most important parts of my candidature, and I know that they will be with me during my presentation. This gives me a lot of inspiration!
Project leader of the Eastern Partnership project, member of Mediation Commission, now running for Chair Team. Is there anything else you do in AEGEE that people do not know of yet?
It is already quite some things, don’t you think so? Apart from everything you have mentioned, during September and October I am also working as a Chair shadower.
How do you manage to work full-time in a serious company, dedicate time to your family, and with this to do ten thousand different AEGEE tasks? Where is Alla’s battery hidden?
Alla and her little daughter Chloe
The secret is the combination of a few factors:
- motivation- AEGEE is my hobby and I really enjoy doing this;
- time-management – the more things you have in your agenda, the better it is structured (of course, without exaggerating);
- team – I am lucky to work with two amazing teams in AEGEE. When people are sharing your motivation and willingness to do something meaningful – it is making you work even better.
And of course the most important is the support from my amazing family!
As an experienced member as well as a former CD member, who stood at the Agora stage so many times, say something encouraging for the ones who are going to present themselves at the Agora for the first time or still hesitate to do this.
What I would suggest is not to be afraid of running for a position. Sometimes people can think that they are not good enough or not experienced for some roles in AEGEE. But what matters in reality is the motivation and commitment of a person.
Also it is important to know exactly what the body you are running for is doing. That is why I would suggest, before submitting an application – talk to people who are currently holding this position. They will definitely help you with the decision.
So do not hesitate to submit your applications – working on AEGEE European level gives you a lot of fun, new skills and great friends!
Years of experience in AEGEE at the highest European level positions, ability to implement the most interesting ideas, amazing multi-tasking skills and lots of inspiration are Alla’s key advantages, which she is surely going to use as a Chair Team member.
Written by Olga Iatsyna, AEGEE-Dnipropetrovsk