Coming from AEGEE-Tilburg, we are pleased to present to you this new Member of the Month: Melissa Boom. Part of AEGEE since 2018, she knows very well what this association is — a huge family of course! — and its many possibilities. If you want to know more about Melissa’s journey (and her words of wisdom), this article awaits you! 

Congratulations on being awarded the Member of the Month! We are all eager to hear your AEGEE story! 

Thanks so much for this appreciation, it brightened my day!

My AEGEE story began in September 2018, so I have been a member for almost three years. I first learned about AEGEE when I attended a fair where all the student associations presented themselves to the new students. I was fresh out of high school and never expected myself to join a student association. AEGEE’s stall caught my attention though, because the stall was covered in the flags of many different countries. I spoke to one of the members who was so enthusiastic and he described the association as a family. After this conversation, I was sure I wanted to become part of this family. At first, my motivation to join AEGEE was to get to know students from all over Europe and because I wanted to travel. But AEGEE has brought me soooo much more. More than I could ever have imagined. And I am still curious as to what it will bring me in the future.

Question: What has been the highlight of your time in AEGEE?

Answer: This was most definitely my board term at AEGEE-Tilburg. I was so actively involved in the association. I enjoyed the members, the projects, the trips, the collaborations, the challenges and the development of both myself and the association. During my board term, I really felt like I was seizing all the opportunities and making the most out of my time in AEGEE.

Q: What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve had in AEGEE?

A: For starters, a very memorable moment was organizing my first large event (together with an amazing team of course). At this moment, I felt so proud of what we had accomplished, and it was so rewarding to see all of these people have fun. Another very memorable moment was visiting the CD house. I was still a very new member, having only been with the association for two months. During this trip, I really felt connected to the whole of AEGEE, whereas before the trip I had mainly felt connected to my Local.

Q: What are some ways in which AEGEE helped you in your life?

A: This list goes on and on and on. I will spare you the entire list and will focus on what changed me the most. First of all, I learned project management through AEGEE. Practice makes perfect. Even though my project management is still far from perfect, AEGEE has really offered me a lot of experience in this field. Because of this, I now feel confident and comfortable working on projects in different kinds of teams and even dare to take the lead.

AEGEE has also taught me a lot about what I value in life. This is not getting the perfect job; what I value most in life are the experiences I have and the people with whom I share those experiences.

Q: What are your words of wisdom to your fellow AEGEEans?

A: Cherish all the amazing people who surround you <3

Q: Any closing remarks?
A: AEGEE really is a huge family to me. I enjoy all the contacts I have and the ones I’m still making all the time. Thanks to everyone I have met so far for making this experience so memorable.

And this member sure stuck to her word. An Aegeean for 6 years, she really has had the time to try everything: from Summer University and Agora organising to being president of her Local, and still with time for a bachelor thesis in the middle! Without further ado, let’s meet April’s Member of the Month Iulia Simion from AEGEE-Buçaresti! 

Question: Congratulations on being awarded the Member of the Month! We are all eager to hear your AEGEE story.

Answer: First of all, I really want to thank you for this awesome nomination. It is exciting and encouraging to realise that what you are doing is noticed by others and your work is appreciated.

My journey in AEGEE started in November 2016. My first interaction with the AEGEE-București family took place in my first year of student life when I decided that my life should not be limited to college, and volunteering seemed like a good starting point. After the NGOs’ night (a well-known event dedicated for students who want to be involved in the volunteering world) I realized that AEGEE was a perfect fit for me due to the learning and evolution opportunities it offers.

For four and a half years I was very involved at local level, being part of the organising team in most of the AEGEE-București projects – Travel Summer University (2017), New Year event (2017, 2019), Europe on Track (2018), Spring Agora București 2019 and many local ones too. When the pandemic started we were quite disoriented by the sudden change of situation, but with a lot of teamwork and organisation, we succeeded in the fight with Covid19 and managed to organise many online projects, including Christmas Advent Calendar, PR Masters, Urban Jungle, Europolis and, of course, how could we forget about Foreign Voices?

What motivates me? It’s simple: our strong team, with whom I can create a path of evolution and growth – and have fun too. A team with whom I strongly believe that we’ll achieve all the goals we set for this year.

Q: What has been the highlight of your time in AEGEE?

A: I think that one of the highlights in AEGEE-București was my Treasurer experience during Spring Agora București 2019. It was the biggest challenge of my life and full of responsibilities. Since October 2018, I have been involved on the financial side but also on the HR and Graphic Design sides too. I had to learn to handle all of them, all whilst doing my bachelor thesis.  

A second highlight is my experience as President of AEGEE-București that started 6 months ago. As president, I have tried (and hopefully succeeded) to build a strong and well-knit team that is always ready for new challenges and new projects. A team which could organise and stabilise 5 projects – three at the local level (PR Masters, Urban Jungle and Europolis) and two at the international level (AEGEE Advent Calendar and Foreign Voices, of which we reached the third edition this month: German Month, coming after Greek and Spanish).

Q: What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve had in AEGEE?

A: During my time in AEGEE, I have gathered many memorable moments: live meetings before the pandemic, recruiting sessions, crazy brainstorming meetings, just working, and having fun together. One of the main objectives for the future, after the pandemic is over, is to create more memories with beautiful, energetic and awesome people.

Q: What are some ways in which AEGEE helped you in your life?

A: I think that my AEGEE experience helped me in many ways. Firstly, I practiced public speaking as a day-to-day activity. Before AEGEE I was very shy, emotive and afraid to talk to strangers, but now I don’t have any problems talking with people I don’t know. Secondly, my experience in the HR department as HR Coordinator helped me get a job in the IT Recruiting Area because I already had some basis in the recruitment process. And last but not least, AEGEE helped me to discover that I love Graphic Design because I was pushed to try this side too and use my creativity as much as possible.

Q: What are your words of wisdom to your fellow AEGEEans?

A: Allow yourself to make mistakes because they are the main engine of evolution and development. During your experience in AEGEE, accept the challenge and be the best version of yourself. Dare to try everything that AEGEE can offer you and discover every corner of this magical and awesome world.

Q: Any closing remarks?

A: Hope to see you somewhere in Europe soon!

This election of the member of this month was quite a roller-coaster – we had so many incredible candidates. But we unfortunately could choose one just and that one is Anastasia Sidiropoulou from AEGEE-Academy! Member for two years, her AEGGE story is as amazing as she is. Because what can be better than it being about her developing and discovering herself? She now is a trainer, a volunteer and a traveler for whom, if she dreams it, everything is possible! Wanna know how AEGEE helped? Read this article! 

Congratulations on being awarded the Member of the Month! We are all eager to hear your AEGEE story. 

First of all, I would like to thank you for the nomination. It is so motivating when your efforts are appreciated! I joined AEGEE two years ago, in March 2019, when I was looking for ways to develop myself as an undergraduate student. It was just a simple Facebook post for a training event that opened the AEGEE world for me. From the first AEGEE gatherings that I joined and I felt that AEGEE was the perfect place for me to start growing as a volunteer and get out of my comfort zone.

Two weeks after being a member, I joined my first AEGEE event as a helper. This event was the beginning of my journey as a trainer. For those that do not know it, I am currently studying Adult Education and at this event I realised the uniqueness of my studies because I saw in front of my eyes how being a Non-Formal Education trainer looks like. Also during that training course, I set my first goal in this organisation, to attend a Training of New Trainers, which fortunately happened 6 months later.

Currently, I am the Public Relations Manager of AEGEE-Academy and I am looking forward to continuing being part of AEGEE-Academy board for another term. My motivation to be active in this organisation is my willingness to develop myself as much as possible, creating development opportunities for my fellow AEGEEans and contribute to making this world a better and more educational inclusive place for all of us.

What has been the highlight of your time in AEGEE?

Being part of AEGEE-Academy is the most unforgettable highlight of my time in AEGEE so far. Being able to collaborate, in order to organise and implement training events, with people that are passionate for Non-Formal Education like me is more than exciting. Also, my whole term in the board of AEGEE-Academy as Public Relations Manager is an amazing experience. This year, I discovered that I have skills, which I have never imagined.

What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve had in AEGEE?

Mmm that’s a tough question…I will say first of all, the Training New Trainers (TNT) event that I attended in 2019 in Budapest; designing outlines and drawing flipcharts with other trainers in the middle of the night, sleeping only for 5 hours and still have energy to participate in sessions (alright…maybe with the help of some cups of coffee haha!). Also, “The DiWine Comedy” SU of AEGEE-Firenze and a Brainstorming meeting that we had with the board of AEGEE-Academy some weeks ago in order to draft the idea for a study session that we wanted to apply for were moments that will always be written with lovely words in my heart.

What are some ways in which AEGEE helped you in your life? 

As I mentioned above, AEGEE was the perfect place for me to grow as a volunteer, develop myself and find the Trainer that exists within myself. AEGEE came in my life the right time, when it was time for me to get out of my comfort zone. I learnt to work in teams, especially remotely, to deal with conflicts and be able to manage my emotions in the working environment. Skills that came up as outcomes, when I had to deal with difficult situations and I should not give up. Also, right now I feel more confident about myself when I am talking in a big audience and in a language that is not my mother tongue. Something that was not so easy for me to do so three years ago.

Last but not least, I learnt to travel as a traveller instead of a tourist. The way that I used to travel completely changed for me after meeting AEGEE. Super happy about that fact. Not everyone has the opportunity to experience how it looks to be a real Traveller.

 What are your words of wisdom to your fellow AEGEEans?

One of my favourite quotes: “If you can dream it, you can do it!” – Walt Disney

Any closing remarks?
Warm virtual hugs to all the amazing people out there, with whom I have the opportunity to collaborate with and to those, who always support me in my AEGEE journey. They know who they are!

Do you AEGEEans know of those rare occasions when you encounter a piece of writing that is so raw in emotion that you can feel the enthusiasm in every letter? Well, this interview is one of those! And to make things even better, it is about AEGEE and the incredible ways in which it can shape someone’s life! Of course, with moderation, as the interviewee rightly says! Coming from AEGEE-Delft, Julian van Loo has been chosen as our Member of the Month, February 2021! 

Congratulations on being awarded the Member of the Month! We are all eager to hear your AEGEE story. 

First of all, thank you for this award! It feels rewarding to know when your work is appreciated :)

I joined AEGEE-Delft in the summer of 2016 when I started studying in Delft. The vibe of the AEGEEans was great and I felt part of the community right away. For three years I was very active on the local level and hitchhiked all over Europe, but I didn’t do anything on the European level until I went to my first SU in Zagreb after being an AEGEEan for three years! 

I immediately got addicted to European events and, during my board year in AEGEE-Delft, went to Agora Salerno, NWM Aachen, EPM Barcelona and NWM Zagreb – just before the lockdown – and many online events. In Salerno, I heard about the start of the Sustainability Committee, and have been a member since its inception. 

I’ve now been a speaker of the committee together with the incredible Jullz for half a year. My latest endeavour in AEGEE was organizing the thematic conference of EPM 2021 as Content Manager, which has been a great experience!

What has been the highlight of your time in AEGEE?

Being secretary on the full-time board of AEGEE-Delft in 2019-2020 was an incredible and crazy year. I met amazing people, organised a lot of activities and went to so many great events. It is hard to choose a single highlight of that year, so I won’t choose a moment, but I’ll choose the team with whom I experienced it all; my lovely boardies Lars, Chris and Lynn.

What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve had in AEGEE?

‘The Smells Like Green Spirit’ SU of AEGEE-Zagreb; celebrating the European Night of Agora Salerno in a parking lot whilst waiting hours for the bus (and sneaking out of the beach club to swim in the sea at one of the parties); dining at a fancy restaurant for free after getting a ride from a very kind businessman from Montenegro when hitchhiking from Belgrade to Budapest; making and streaming a three-day online show to promote AEGEE-Delft during the pandemic;  many nights in the Praćka karaoke bar with AEGEE-Zagreb; I could go on for days!

What are some of the ways in which AEGEE has helped you in your life?

Most importantly of all, AEGEE helped me discover my interests and passion. Without AEGEE, I wouldn’t have the friends I have now, be studying the subject I am now, and have the self-confidence I have now. Many people say that AEGEE is the place where you can be yourself, and I agree, but would go even further: AEGEE is the place where you can shape yourself, your values and your world view. 

AEGEE helped me understand my own boundaries and transformed them; both in a good way – I am doing things now I wouldn’t have dared to five years ago – and in a bad way – I put a lot of pressure on myself and bit off more than I could chew. Luckily, AEGEEans also form a caring network, and through speaking to those around me I have learned not to work too hard!

What are your words of wisdom to your fellow AEGEEans?

Say yes, and try new things! There are many opportunities in AEGEE just waiting to be taken. You won’t regret it ;)

But also: say no, and respect your own limits. There are only so many hours in a day, so don’t overwork yourself. Focus on the things that matter most to you, do things well, and allow yourself a break.

Also, I cannot waste this opportunity to give some sustainability advice that we learned at the EPM Conference: recycling is the last resort. Better is repairing your stuff, sharing or reselling it, keeping it in use, or even better; not buying something you don’t need!

Any closing remarks?

Hugs to all the amazing people I’ve met in this crazy adventure so far!

“Excuse me, is this a joke? I can’t be a member of the month, I’m not THAT active.” (Ruslan Kvitnevyi, 2021) I honestly believed that I had found myself with no person to interview and that this January would be member-of-the-month-less. But it turns out our interviewee is just like that, such a modest person – and admittedly, has a peculiar sense of humour- who couldn’t believe he had been selected! Which you will find hard to believe when you read the interview – and some bonus info! I do believe we inaugurate this new year with great company, and proof that not even a pandemic is capable of stopping our AEGEE-spirit!

Congratulations on being awarded the Member of the Month! We are all eager to hear your AEGEE story. 

Hello, Europe! My name is Ruslan Kvitnevyi, I’m from AEGEE-Lviv and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by this award. Thank you! I joined AEGEE in November 2018 (officially became a member on January 8, 2019) by simply visiting an AEGEE presentation in my hometown – Lviv, Ukraine, and was hooked right away. The vision of borderless Europe really excited me and motivated me to know more about AEGEE. Over the last 2 years, I’ve already been in organiser-teams for various local events, served the local as its President (2019-2020) and now serving as its Advisory board member. I also joined both the Network Commission of AEGEE-Europe, first as a Sub-Commissioner last year, now as Network Commissioner of the Wild East Area, and AEGEE Eastern Partnership Project Content team member.

What has been the highlight of your time in AEGEE?

A yearly service as AEGEE-Lviv’s President. It’s been a wild ride, especially the second half of it when COVID-19 hit hard. 

What do your parents think about being so active in AEGEE?

They think I waste my time, energy, and money.

What was your life before AEGEE?

AEGEE has absorbed me fully, so I legit can’t even remember those “dark times” before joining

What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve had in AEGEE?

Every event I attended and the people I met there left something special, but, If I had to pick, probably Autumn Agora Salerno 2019, as it was my first Agora and it’s the biggest and finest AEGEE-Europe event where you have the opportunity to really feel the scale of the organisation itself, as well as the unity of young people across Europe.

Which AEGEE local would like to visit next and why?

As an AEGEE-Lviv member, it has to be our twin antenna AEGEE-Aachen, heard a lot of great news about the local and the city, as a Network Commissioner of the Wild East Area, naturally, all my appointed locals (17 in total), and as an AEGEE Eastern Partnership Project Content team member – AEGEE-Yerevan.

What are some ways in which AEGEE helped you in your life? (eg. professionally, personal development, communication skills, etc.)

I learned how to edit videos and photos, how to write texts, to work in an international team, improved time/stress/conflict management.

What are your words of wisdom to your fellow AEGEEans?

Stay positive and COVID negative.

Any closing remarks?

How’s the weather? (c)

November brings AEGEE a new member of the month, and this time it’s yet another familiar face. Her enthusiasm and help at the local and European help deserves recognition. We are happy to introduce the Member of the Month, November 2020, Teddy van Amelsvoort!

Congratulations, Teddy, on being awarded the Member of the Month! We are all eager to hear your AEGEE story. 

Thank you and thank you for this opportunity! It is actually very funny, because I remember telling the rest of my board members that I was never going to be active on the European Level and fast forward to now, here we are. I think the thing that motivates me within AEGEE the most is working together with others on a common goal and seeing your work pay off. Another motivator is seeing people become a part of your AEGEE family and sharing your joy with them. Smiling AEGEEans are probably my favourite AEGEEans.

So my AEGEE story started in September 2017. I met AEGEE at the introduction period at my University, where I joined my introduction brother for a promotional talk, as he was interested in the association. A week later at the free tosti lunch I became a member, with the idea – let’s try it and if it is not for me, I will be gone as fast as I joined.

Almost immediately after, I was asked to be a part of the First Year Committee (Local Activities) and before I could answer I was already put in the WhatsApp group. That kind of steamrolled my way to becoming a board member for a term and a half (first as a treasurer, then as vice-president). After these terms, I decided to move to the European Level after having my eyes opened to the other possibilities within AEGEE at Agora Salerno. On the European level, I have had the opportunity to join the HRC, its Speaker Team as interim project supporter, jobshadower of the first online Agora, during which I presented my candidature for NetCom and ultimately as NetCom’s current Speaker. 

What was your life before AEGEE? What do your parents think about being so active in AEGEE?

Before I joined AEGEE, I was still fresh out of high school, so I don’t really know student life without at least a little of AEGEE. My parents don’t really understand AEGEE, even though I have tried to explain it for quite some time, but they like that I found something where I can put a little of myself in my work and learn more about a variety of topics.

What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve had in AEGEE?

I think the most memorable moments are quite continuous, as, for me, it is often about the journey to reach something, and about the teams that I am a part of make that journey very memorable, such as my work with my locals and SubCommies and, of course, my amazing fellow NetCommies.

I think one memorable moment that stands out for me is when my fellow board members and I organised a trip to Skopje. At that trip we had a surprising number of 24 members join us, including many newbies. It was also the largest number to join us for a trip in quite some time. The trip was full of laughter, but also members who came up to us as the board and told us they were so happy to have become a part of our local.

What are some ways in which AEGEE helped you in your life? 

AEGEE teaches you a lot, sometimes without even realising it, including how to handle a variety of situations and issues. I think AEGEE has given me the opportunity to find out more about what I am interested in and broaden my viewpoints while learning to communicate better with others. AEGEE also helped me to open up a bit more and present myself, which is one of my struggling points, as I am quite a shy person.

What are your words of wisdom to your fellow AEGEEans?

Within AEGEE, there are so many opportunities for you, don’t be afraid to take up some challenges, as the possibilities for you to learn, grow and meet new people are endless! And probably, most importantly, tell your fellow AEGEEans and the people in your life when you think they are doing something great, compliments can let others know you appreciate them and make their day a little brighter!

Any closing remarks?

I am very grateful to the people who have supported me, joined me on some of my crazy plans and the amazing people that I can call friends, as without them, this association would not be half as enjoyable.

October has been a busy month for AEGEE, a month where AEGEEans from all over Europe gathered online for the Autumn Agora. And like every Agora, there was a lot to discuss and cross-check. The short time and need for quick answers is no easy task, but he managed to stay calm and explain difficult legal aspects in simple clear terms. We are happy to introduce the Member of the Month, October 2020, Heiko Kirchner of AEGEE-Köln!

Congratulations Heiko on being awarded the Member of the Month! We are all eager to hear your AEGEE story!

Thank you, I’m very honoured! My AEGEE story goes slow and steady: in my first semester of studying French and German law in Cologne, a friend dragged me along to an info event by AEGEE-Köln. I was charmed by the people and the atmosphere of the small group.

I had already wanted to join a students’ group, and I liked AEGEE because it’s not only about career opportunities, or travelling, or politics, but it’s a little bit of everything. So I became a member and joined some local events. I felt like investing more energy in AEGEE, so in summer of 2018, I joined the board and stayed there for one year.

In the last month of my time on the board, AEGEE-Köln organised the Strategic Planning Meeting 2019. There, some participants heard I was a law student and suggested I join the Juridical Commission. I honestly didn’t see why not – I wanted to get to know the European level of AEGEE anyway, and I had to move to France for my studies, so I didn’t run for the local board again. I became Subcommissioner of the JC, then got appointed as interim almost one year ago and finally got elected at the Online Spring Agora.

What was your life before AEGEE? What do your parents think about being so active in AEGEE?

Seeing as I joined AEGEE in my first semester, my life before AEGEE was back home in Southwestern Germany, where I grew up and went to school near the French border. My love for France was a stepping stone to becoming a European at heart. My affinity for associations might also come from my school theatre club.

Between graduating from school and starting my studies, I did a voluntary gap year at a workshop for intellectually disabled people in my hometown. The connections with the people I met there and the other volunteers I met at seminars during the year gave me a much more open-minded perspective on the world than I’d previously had.

My parents are supportive of my activity in AEGEE. I think sometimes they are unsure what AEGEE does and what I do in AEGEE, but they conclude it’s cool I’m politically active – and even though AEGEE is not only a political cause, I also see it as that. Whenever I tell my parents that I’m preparing for another Agora, they ask to make sure I’m not letting my studies slide. But so far, it seems I’ve been able to convince them that I can juggle both AEGEE and my degree.

What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve had in AEGEE?

I have quite a few to choose from, so here are four:

On my 40-hour solo journey to Agora Bucuresti, my train stopped in Budapest in the middle of the night and I recognised some AEGEEans on the platform. That was a magical moment.

At the Strategic Planning Meeting 2019, I held a speech as president of the organising Local. I was pretty nervous, but also very proud of my organisers and members. And because I knew so many participants from other events, it felt more like speaking at a family event than at a conference.

Around the EPM in Barcelona, I got to spend some in-person time with my long-distance colleagues from the JC. It almost felt a bit surreal to hang out with these very cool people that I had spent so much time in online calls with.

And finally, the online Autumn Agora was one big memorable moment. Working on this with so many dedicated people was an honour. And even though I miss live events, I got a bit of that strange post-Agora mix of exhaustion and euphoria afterwards.

What are some ways in which AEGEE helped you in your life? 

I didn’t really learn how to plan something in a team in school. Talking is easy, but coming up with a common plan that is then followed through with – that’s hard. Working in local, international and event-based teams has helped me there immensely.

This next one is JC-specific, I suppose: Answering concrete legal questions to real people is not a part of standard law studies in Germany or France. For me, getting to the bottom of AEGEE-internal questions by interpreting our legal documents has really improved my analysing of the theoretical cases that I have to solve at the university.

Last but not least, I am much more comfortable talking to people I don’t know, and who might be from different backgrounds, than I was in 2017. And that is in part due to the challenges AEGEE presents in that regard, and the positive experiences I had when I accepted those challenges.

What are your words of wisdom to your fellow AEGEEans?

Go to events (if they’re allowed)! In my personal experience, AEGEE events are not only a place for new experiences and meeting great people. They also give you a boost of motivation for your plans in AEGEE and outside of it.

Any closing remarks?

If you’re into law and into AEGEE, keep your eyes peeled for Open Calls by the Juridical Commission! See you somewhere in Europe, offline or online!

AEGEEans all around Europe have suggested a very committed member to be AEGEE’s Member of the Month, August 2020. She joined our association five years ago and she has been inarguably active ever since. This time, she has been nominated for Member of the Month due to contributions in her roles such as being a Speaker of the EQAC, Financial Officer and joining the Network Commission. Let’s know a bit more about Nicoleta Mihalescu!

Congratulations on being awarded the Member of the Month! We are all eager to hear your AEGEE story.

Thank you for this opportunity! It is very much appreciated to see that my work is noticed and valued!

My AEGEE Story – when I think about it I get a feeling of achievement! It is almost hard to believe that I have been in AEGEE for five years already! Looking back, my adventure started in the warm arms of AEGEE-Iași and driven by curiosity and enthusiasm I took on challenges such as organising a European Event (Pre-Agora Event), being a helper at the Agora, doing two consecutive board years (HR Responsible 2016 and President 2017) and exploring the European Level. From Sub-commisioner of Audit Commission to Sub-commisioner of Network Commission and becoming a member of EQAC and HRC, I tried to learn and discover what AEGEE has to offer – and I really dived into the European Level. That started with me candidating for Speaker of EQAC and keeping things going and events approved. Then the Open Call for Finance Officer was another opportunity where I saw the need and I wanted to help. Finally, the role of Network Commissioner rounds up my story. I have gained so much from AEGEE and I hope that through NetCom I will be able to share my knowledge and inspire others.  

What has been the highlight of your time in AEGEE?

This is a difficult question to answer. But I consider that NOW is the highlight of my experience. I am part of an awesome NetCom Team, I have amazing SubCommies who want to learn and are eager to have an impact, the Financial Management Squad of AEGEE-Europe is right on point and I try to support and give a helping hand to the Network in every way possible. 

What are some of the most memorable moments you have had in AEGEE?

There have been so many memorable moments! I will mention the first time I had to speak in front of the Agora – standing there and seeing all the faces looking at me was something overwhelming, but special. In my opinion, every event in AEGEE is memorable, even if it is online because events are about the people you meet for the first time and about those with whom you reunite. 

What are some ways in which AEGEE helped you in your life?

As mentioned before, through AEGEE I have gained a lot and one of the things is confidence. This is a key element which is needed when you want your opinion to be heard or when you have to work and manage an international team. That being said, on the list, I would also add management related skills: team management, social media and last but not least, time management.

What are your words of wisdom to your fellow AEGEEans?Fellow AEGEEans, be curious! AEGEE is so much more than what you learn during an LTC or during an informative night. Don’t wait for people to tell you want to do or what is possible, but take initiative and write your own story! 

Sometimes it is hard to choose only one AEGEEan as member of the month since one of the many virtues of our association is teamwork and bonding with each other. This is why, for AEGEE’s member of the month of July, we have chosen the whole CD57, congratulations!

Their term had some challenges due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, CD57 has managed to do a fantastic job to keep AEGEEans all around the world connected, motivated and with feeling proximity to each other than ever before. Let’s meet CD57: Daniel Amesz, Oksana Prokopchenko, Refikbaris Ozcelik, Batuhan Carikci, Hanna Alajoe and Álvaro González!

Congratulations on being awarded the Member of the Month! We are all eager to hear your AEGEE story.

Thank you so much! We’re happy to receive this commendation as a team!

What has been the highlight of your time in AEGEE?

For sure, none of us has been through a crazier year than the one we have just been going through. Although we had very different experiences and all went through our own ups and downs, we had all independently picked Agora Salerno as one of our favourite moments of last year. We hold this memory with a smile and tears as it happened to have been the only moment in our year that we spent more than a day together with the whole team. Agora is always a crazy week, for CDs even more so and we had our fair share of challenges there. But the feeling of teamwork and going through it physically together was great and something we really missed the rest of the year.

What are some ways in which AEGEE helped you in your life?

AEGEE brings so many learning opportunities and we’ve taken many of those. It has helped all of us grow as people and we’ve developed many soft and hard skills. Besides that, many of our friends are AEGEEans, some of us even found love. It is clear to see that our lives would not have been even remotely the same if it wasn’t for this association and we’re happy to have been affected by it. 

Additionally, the experience we have gained through our time in AEGEE has been invaluable for us for finding job opportunities. While some of us have already found jobs thanks to AEGEE previously, now is the time to really put the experience in practice to build careers.

What are your words of wisdom to your fellow AEGEEans?

AEGEE is all about making meaningful connections with fellow Europeans. This is something that comes naturally to most of us and happens spontaneously at AEGEE events. Now, it might cost a bit more effort, but it is also more important than ever. We challenge everyone to keep up their AEGEE spirit and try to find those connections in a safe way or online. 

However, AEGEE is not only about the social aspect, but it is also about using your voice and jointly working on a better future. We need everyone to stay loud and draw attention to topics that are central to young people in Europe. We live in turbulent times with many causes that require action, and together we have the best chance to have an impact. 

Any closing remarks?

We want to thank everyone who worked with us during the past year to make AEGEE the best it can be. It has been a pleasure and an honour to be your CD and we hope to see you all as soon as possible somewhere in Europe. Virtual hugs!

It seems that the hardest times are over and AEGEEans from all over Europe are beginning to meet in person once again step by step. So there couldn’t be a better time to announce to our fellow AEGEEan who has been honoured as the Member of the Month of May: Rik Smale, from AEGEE-Enschede! Last month, Smale took a further step in his AEGEE commitment and became Vice-Speaker of ITC’s Speaker Team, where he leads the role of MyAEGEE’s project manager.

Congratulations on being awarded the Member of the Month! We are all eager to hear your AEGEE story.

Thanks, I feel very honoured! I became a member of AEGEE back in September 2016, right when I started studying. To be completely honest, when I joined I didn’t even know that AEGEE-Enschede was part of a European network. Luckily I found out soon after I joined and I’m very happy that I did. AEGEE has given me so many memories and adventures, both on a local level and on a European level.

What has been the highlight of your time in AEGEE?

There are just so many highlights that I don’t even know where to start. I think my latest highlight was the MyAEGEE hackathon that was organised by the ITC and AEGEE-Aachen just before the coronavirus pandemic really hit us. That’s also the event where I chose to become the new project manager for MyAEGEE and that has been a blast for over the last few months.

What are some of the most memorable moments you have had in AEGEE?

One event that I really loved was the EPM pre-event in Tbilisi, just before EPM Yerevan 2018. I am not sure what the real reason was, but Tbilisi is just an amazing city and the people at the event were really wonderful.

What are some ways in which AEGEE helped you in your life?

Just to name two, AEGEE has helped me become more confident and more understanding of the world around me. When I joined AEGEE, I was quite a bit shyer than I am now and AEGEE helped me open up. I’ve also learned a lot about inclusivity and sustainability, two topics I knew a lot less about before.

What are your words of wisdom to your fellow AEGEEans?

Don’t be afraid to try something new. If you are not completely sure something would suit you, now is the time to try new things. And luckily, the possibilities in AEGEE are endless!

Any closing remarks?

I want to thank everybody who has helped me to get where I am now and everyone else working to make AEGEE a better place. And I hope to see all of you again soon, somewhere in Europe!