Georgia Grolliou for SUCT: “If it’s not you that you love to work for this amazing organisation, then who would do it?”

Georgia Grolliou joined AEGEE about two years ago during her Erasmus in Aachen. She is the current president of AEGEE-Thessaloniki and she is running for Project Manager of Summer University Coordination Team (SUCT). Let’s find out more about her and her plans for SUCT!

The AEGEEan: Who are you? How did you find out about AEGEE?
Hello to everyone!! I am Georgia Grolliou from AEGEE-Thessaloniki! Just two years ago I was curious to experience something different, something to rock my world, and then Erasmus came in my life! That was the first time I met AEGEE-Aachen and became a member of this European party! After going back home, life became boring again.. Untill I discovered that there was an antenna in my city!! And here I am, proudly the president of AEGEE-Thessaloniki!

What have you learned while being President of your antenna?
I have learned so many thing while being part of AEGEE, not only by being president but also by being a member. Firstly, you learn how to work as a team, how to manage a team with so different personalities, motivate people and get great inspiration from them at the same time. For sure, you will come across team and risk management as well, but as a great inspirer once said: every big achievement needs just one step per time. Last but not least, you learn so much about yourself, how you react in extreme situations and how you behave out of your comfort zone with people you maybe didn’t know before.

What is Summer University (SU) to you? Why would you like to work on this project?
Summer University for me? Hmmm difficult to define! Summer University is like a happening where everything flows so normally, like we are 35 fellows fitting totally with each other, going on holidays all together! A SU, where there will be no one complaining all the time, because the shape of the pizza is not triangular, or want to go to bed instead of party hard! All participants would be cool, energetic and enthusiastic, willing to participate in all the activities, even if they have slept only a couple of hours, ready to dance and party till the dawn of day and make real friends despite of borders, languages and countries. I think it’s the most successful project of AEGEE throughout these years and of course it’s not random. It offers young people a unique experience to visit a country from the view of the locals, get to know its culture, make new friends and share great moments with them through awesome activities, motivating workshops and inspiring talks with other young people from all over Europe.

Why did you decide to run for the Summer University Coordination Team and the particular position?
Summer University was since the beginning the body of AEGEE that attracted me. As I am about to graduate, I have more free time than in the past years, so I want to finally contribute to the European level and how else if it’s not in my favourite body, SUCT? I decided to to run for Project Manager, because I think it needs a lot of passion and time to coordinate a team like SUCT and it’s definitely challenging.

What is your relevant experience in AEGEE?
The main experience I got was during the Summer University Project School (SUPS), where we didn’t just learn the rules and deadlines for submitting an SU, descriptions and so on, but we also dealt with more substantial aspects of an SU, like risk management, how to be a good leader of your team, Plan B, time management and motivating people, organisers and participants! The most valuable experience is always the one you get by being an organiser. As Lodging/Accommodation Responsible, Incoming Responsible and Visa Responsible during PreAgora event, I gained a lot of experience by facing a lot of crisis and following Plan B or C! Some would say that I am missing experience because I wasn’t a coordinator or organiser of an SU but I learned from the best and I think what makes an event unique and unforgettable is not just the great timing or exact budget but the good mood and the team spirit and I am full of it!

What do you do apart from AEGEE?
I am studying mechanical engineering in the Aristotle Polytechnic of Thessaloniki! I know it sounds strange to be a woman around hundreds of men but at the same time it’s really challenging! Apart from this, I am working part time! How else could I sponsor all these trips within AEGEE?

What would you like to focus on during your term?
Participant’s selection for sure. It should be based on more variables in order to avoid “misselection” and “ghost-participants”. Except motivation letter, comments from the Outgoing Responsible of the antenna, the SU organisers should take into account the evaluation of the participant too. And somehow, we could enter in the algorithm the recommendations about this person from people that might know him/her, because it’s a common secret within AEGEE:  people asking recommendations for other people. Also, preparation of the new members, who are going on SU for the first time, with a “local training” maybe. Doing this, you could avoid questions like “Can I apply to this SU with my friends/girlfriend/boyfriend?”, “Could I apply to the same SU with you? I am afraid to travel alone” (yeap, some members asked me this indeed)! Of course, it’s a unique surprise but shouldn’t we prepare them before arriving in the other country? Content of the SU too. It’s important to keep it! Parties and beach time are fun but activities, workshopss etc are the things that make it interesting, unique and different from the usual type of holidays. There are many ideas and I suppose much more will appear, while SUCT will be working as a team.

What was your best SU experience? What was your worst SU experience?
It’s difficult to find a bad SU experience, not because nothing bad happens but after days are passing, facing the after SU depression, you totally forget the bad moments and you are full of this nostalgic feeling. Both SUs that I joined were great experiences, maybe I would give one more point to TSU Barcelona-Las Palmas, just because it had the magic of being the first. Anyway, I could mention a story that was an unforgettable moment for being the first time participant of a SU: after the traditional EN, that was held at the second night, everybody was totally drunk, except me and a couple more people. Drunk and sick participants around, complaining, wanting to go back to the gym, police coming to warn us but in another language, organisers crying without reason, no sense at all! Finally, the few sober people found a solution and took care of everyone, making this night another great memory.

Will you be able to come to Agora Cagliari to represent your candidature?
Yeap, I will be there! You will see me around!

Do you already know the tasks of the position you applied for?
Theoretically, I know all the tasks of each position in SUCT. But you know that there are always extra tasks which maybe you will be asked, so you should always be prepared and love what you do!

Is there something you would like to change/improve working on SUCT?
Although I already love SUCT as it is, there is always considerable room for further improvement. The method of selection of participants for example is the most debated topic within SUCT.

Anything else you would like to tell our readers?
In life, you should never hesitate to deal with things that you love! Don’t be afraid to candidate in any position in local or European level, because if it’s not you that loves to work for this amazing organisation, then who would do it?

Written by Lia Tuska, AEGEE-Sofia