As the third interview with people who will forever remember their first Summer University (SU), we offer you meeting Felipe Gonzalez Santos (AEGEE-Coruña), whom some of you probably have already met. As Felipe told to Summer University 25 Booklet Team, he started his AEGEE career with SU organised by AEGEE-Izmir and AEGEE-Rhodos.
How did you join AEGEE?
I joined AEGEE in 2008 thanks to Sara Vierna, former Network Commissioner for the French, Spanish and Portuguese speaking locals and founder of AEGEE-Coruña, while we were both active in the same student union.
Two months after I joined, I applied for the Summer University RodIzm, organised by AEGEE-Izmir and AEGEE-Rhodos. It was there when I really understood what AEGEE was about and became amazed about it.
Tell us more about it! Why did you become so amazed?
My first SU experience was just amazing – AEGEE-Izmir and AEGEE-Rhodos organised such a great event. It was my first time outside of the European geographical borders and in such an international environment.
At the beginning I felt a little bit weird, as I had the feeling that everybody knew each other for long time and I was the only new person there, then after a few days I realised that it was just AEGEE’s way of meeting people! I enjoyed so much being in another country and not feeling like a foreigner, enjoying the real culture of the place and not only the mainstream touristic things. I was amazed by seeing how two groups of people I considered as confronted were so similar to each other and how both locals had so tight relations. It was also awesome to see that Europe was not only about money and politics, but also about people: open-minded young men and women with similar dreams, willing to share their culture and ideas, and to enjoy 15 days in great mood. I had so much fun and tested my body to sleep few hours a day during two whole weeks. Finally, the group of participants became almost like an international family and, even if everybody was completely awesome, they gave me the award for the best participant. I made great friends with whom I am still in contact and, even more important, I became extremely addicted to AEGEE, something that looks like is going to be the same for still a long time.
What are the most important things about joining SU for you?
There are so many positive things that SU brings you. The opportunity to feel a real European environment, knowing other cultures, opening your mind, making long-lasting friends…
SU is an amazing project where one meets so many different and interesting people from wide range of nationalities, enjoy real culture of a country, having amazing experiences and lots of fun. Also, everything is organised on a voluntary basis, so people working on that project are really passionate for showing their culture and organising everything in the best possible way.
What are you doing at the moment and how has SU influenced your life?
In my AEGEE life I am Policy Officer of Youth Participation, which is assisting the Comite Directeur and the whole network with the thematic aspect and also starting to build the pillars for AEGEE to be more present in policy making and raising European students’ voice. Outside of AEGEE I am an Intern in the office of Amelia Andersdotter, a Swedish Member of the European Parliament.
The SU gave me enough self-confidence to be in an international environment, it also gave me tons of motivation to start joining initiatives and I also understood that this kind of things would be very helpful for changing people minds to a more friendly and open position.
Written by Anita Kalmane, AEGEE-Ogre