Network Commissioner Marek Pezda: “This year was the best year of my life!”

At The AEGEEan we often hear that members of AEGEE feel intimitated to approach “famous” AEGEEans. These people may have so much fame because they are active members, working on the European Level, such as in the Comité Directeur, or in the Network Commission, being there to serve and protect antennae across the Network. The AEGEEan is trying to break down the barrier, and in a series of interviews you will be able to read about what motivates these very active members and what the experiences on the European Level have meant for them.

The AEGEEan had the opportunity to interview Network Commissioner Marek Pezda, who has been part of the Network Commission, serving and protecting, since Agora Skopje, meaning that it will soon be time for him to pass on the torch.

AEGEEan: Let’s go back one year. What made you candidate for Network Commission?

Marek: What made me candidate for NetCom? That is a really good question and the answer is not so easy for me. I have been a member of AEGEE-Katowice since 2008 and one year ago I did my second term in the board, having the responsibility of being Vice- President and Human Resources Responsible. Except the board, I had a lot of other experience as organiser, participant or coordinator for different AEGEE projects. During these projects, I heard a lot of bad news about the conditions of some AEGEE locals. It was really hard for me to listen to it and it made me want to help out. I heard that most locals had HR problems. AEGEE-Katowice also had these same problems, but I managed to solve the challenges together with the previous board. After a reconnaissance of my achievements, experiences, and ideas, I decided to take the next step in AEGEE, to go to European level and to start serving and protecting the AEGEE locals. General support for the locals and willingness to share my experience were my two most important motivators for the application for a position in the Network Commission.

What were your expectations?

I expected a lot from the Network Commission, I wanted to travel a lot, I wanted to work in an international team, as well as to get the opportunity to support and improve AEGEE locals, and organise and participate in different projects. I also expected a lot of new friendships, contacts and many successful co-operations.

How was this year? What were the highlights? What have you learned?

This year was great, amazing, incredible, awesome, brilliant (I don’t know any more positive adjectives ) and sometimes really challenging, but it was definitely the best year of my life. What deserves to be highlighted is the opportunity of working in the team of Netcommies. It is something unforgettable, not only because of the common duties, but also because of the atmosphere and organising two NWMs – one in Gdańsk (150 participants) and the other in Toruń (200 participants), two NetCom Meetings, one in Brussels and the second in Katowice, and because of all the people, events and places. I learned for sure how to work in the international team, how to manage the time, I improved my trainer and organiser skills, English knowledge and more, more and more. But there is not enough space here to mention all of that.

In Agora Enschede only girls were elected for the Network Commission. Has it been different in terms of your work during this term (Agora Enschede – Agora Budapest) in comparison to the previous one (Agora Skopje – Agora Enschede)?

Hehe… No, there is no difference for me. I can cooperate really successfully both with girls and boys. Gender does not matter for me. I care more about the character, work, skills and experience of my colleagues. Apart from these points, there are still two boys in the team, Matteo Scarpa and Jüri Kirpu, so if I want to talk about football or cars, I just contact them. In general, if I compare these two terms Skopje-Enschede with Enschede-Budapest, I can see some other differences. In my first term I was learning a lot about the Network Commission, how to do some stuff, how to organise something, what is more and what is less important. I contacted my locals for the first time and I was not so confident. It was my beginning, but I was growing. Now I am more determined in my decisions and except my common Netcommie duties, I am also responsible for the Speaker Team of the Network Commission.

What lies in the future of your AEGEE life?

Hehe… My answer will be short. I do not say “yes” and I do not say “no”, but if I were to ever candidate for CD, then I would apply for the AEGEE-Europe President position.

What would you say to encourage AEGEE members considering to candidate for the Network Commission?

The Network Commission is one of the best and most active bodies of AEGEE-Europe. Network Commissioners support the locals and create new ones. Somebody said in the past that the AEGEE Network is as powerful as the locals which create it. So on the work of the Netcommies depends the general power of the whole AEGEE. They also organise events, travelling a lot and giving to everyone a lot of important advice, motivation, energy and AEGEE Spirit. So if you have enough energy, about as much as the “Duracell bunny”, and motivation to fulfill all the criteria, then you should not hesitate, and I would encourage you to candidate for the Network Commission.

Written by by Patricia Anthony, AEGEE-København