The world of politics can be a minefield. That’s why it’s so important to have skilled diplomats to guide us through, one of such being Marta Wnuk from AEGEE-Warszawa. After joining AEGEE she’s been rapidly rising through the ranks, being involved in various successful projects, in which she has shown that she can take on great responsibilities with skill and distinction. Now she’s more than ready to take on a new great step and become your next Chairperson.
The AEGEEan: Each person is like a tiny mystery, only so little is known of each of them. Marta, what would you like people to know about you?
Marta: Up to recently I was a student of International Relations with special focus on diplomacy and external relations of the EU, particularly Eastern Partnership, about which I wrote my master’s thesis. Currently, I live and work in Warsaw – the city of rich history, Chopin and beautiful parks, which I fell in love with after moving there from Poznań. In AEGEE I discovered one of my passions, which is being a trainer – delivering sessions and being involved in the content work. I also love Shakespeare, British theatre and good conversation about politics.
Every book has a story. What is your (hi)story with AEGEE?
I discovered AEGEE three and a half years ago when I attended an LTC organised in spring 2012 by AEGEE-Poznań. After that event, nothing was ever the same again. I embarked on passionate and full on unexpected turns of action, fast track of self-development and discovering new possibilities. One 
of those new worlds was Eastern Partnership. From the beginning I was involved in the organisation of “I’m for the East!” Festival – an event dedicated the six EaP countries. I also coordinated my own charity project “AEGEE with Heart for Georgia”. Naturally, after local activity in Poznań I continued my involvement with EaP by shaping the second phase of the Eastern Partnership Project as its Content Manager. The recent success of our project is the AEGEE Eastern Partnership Youth Convention organised in Kraków in May this year. Besides EaP, I also have experience as a board member of AEGEE-Warszawa. Most importantly, after being subcommie, since Agora Cagliari I am member of the Network Commission having under its care locals located in Ukraine and in Poland. So far it’s been one of the most rewarding and intense experiences for me in AEGEE.
“Love is a many-splendored thing.” What is it that you like most about AEGEE?
Firstly, AEGEE makes you part of a unique community – people who will appreciate you for who you are and what you do. Secondly, it is the empowerment it enables and impact it leaves on individuals. These are two components that are hard to find almost anywhere else and that’s why they bring so much value. They make all the commitment and hard work worth the effort.
“You are not what you are born, but what you have it in yourself to be.” What made you want to become the (Vice-)Chairperson of the Agora/EBM?
As I wrote in my application, I’ve always been fascinated by possibility to participate in local democracy that AEGEE provides. The Agora is the ultimate experience, from that perspective. The Chairperson plays a very special role as a facilitator of the whole event and the processes that are being conducted there.
My term as a NetCommie will end soon. But I do not treat my candidature as only the next challenge in the organisation. Thought of being a Chairperson I gives me special thrill of excitement and at the same time I am aware how great the responsibility is that this task bears. It’s always been my dream to find myself in this position and now I know it’s the right time to try to realise it.
There seem to be as many people as stars in the night’s sky. What is it about you that makes you shine brighter, and be better than all the other candidates for (Vice-)Chairperson of the Agora/EBM?
I know quite well the world of diplomacy. And I believe that a good Chairperson should be like a good diplomat – respectable, representative, knowledgeable and a master of a compromise. Secondly, having experience as a NetCommie I am not only familiar with the insights of our organisation very well, but I know the perspective of the locals, thus I’ll be able to include it more in Statutory Events and communicate better with the Network.
“Never measure the height of a mountain, until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was.” What do you think would be the most challenging aspects of being a chairperson?
The most challenging is always the unexpected, I would say. After having organised several events in AEGEE I learnt that very well. It is possible to be prepared for every task, but when different situations occur out of the plan, it’s necessarily to know how to act accordingly, which can be only be built upon previous experience and ability to adapt. Agora sometimes happens to be lively and dynamic, and it’s important to take that into account when preparing for role of a Chairperson.
Written by Willem Laurentzen, AEGEE-Nijmegen
You can read her full candidature here.