Autumn Agora Kiev is approaching really fast, applications have been aproved and candidates are waiting for the moment when they will find out if they will get elected or not. Matteo Secchi from AEGEE-Cagliari is running for Public Relations of the Summer University Coordination Team (SUCT) and has already some ideas of what he wants to do if he will get elected. Read more below to find out what he told the AEGEEan.
The AEGEEan: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Matteo Secchi: Hi, there! I am Matteo from AEGEE-Cagliari, member of this awesome association since 2013 and every day spent with and for AEGEE was a big pleasure. As many members of AEGEE, I started by joining a Summer University, and what was more like a joke for me at first, is now one of the most important things in my life.
Actually, after some Summer Universities (SUs), Network Meetings (NWMs), local activities, and the amazing Autumn Agora Cagliari 2014, I am the Internal Vice-President of AEGEE-Cagliari.
The AEGEEan: Why do you want to run for member of Summer University Coordination Team?
I decided to apply for Summer University Coordination Team because Summer University is the project that signed all my career in AEGEE and it has a big signification for me. For me, it is the best event. You see smiles everywhere, organisers and participants enjoying every moment together, and when this all comes to an end, you become nostalgic and you realise that you become a family with the others 30/35 amazing people and all you want is to have one more day and to remember all the good times. It is something that I can not describe.
For this reason I think I am good for this team, and because I want to share all my knowledge with the others, to maintain and improve this incredible project.
I choose Public Relations because this year I made the promotion for the Summer University of my local and the result was quite good. I always liked the public relations field and I also want to help the rest of the team with creating some imputs for the future and improve the Summer Universities.
Being member of SUCT will take some of your time. Are you still studying? Can you dedicate yourself and your time for this team?
Actually I am not studying and I am unemployed, so time is not a problem! Also, when I take a task, I honour it no matter what, even if I find a job, because for the next year, my mind will be set only on the Summer University Project.
Do you know the others who are running for SUCT? How do you think that you are going to work together in case you get elected?
That is a really funny question. Actually, I know all the candidates, I met them during the events I took part in. I met Carolina in my first NWM and she saw me growing during these past years and she is also a very good friend of mine.
Lia was a participant with me in Summer University Project School this year. From the first moment we became friends thanks to the awesome work of SUCT and trainers and as well of the great group that was there. After that, we both applied to Travel Summer University “Adventure Time” where I met Rali.
As you can see AEGEE is not that big, but going back to the main question, I guess I will not have a problem in working with them, firstly because we are friends, secondly because we already had the possibility of working together.
Do you already have some ideas and plans for the next year Summer Universities?
Actually, I was thinking about this these days and also watching all the work that SUCT has done this past year.
I want to improve and continue the work that Suzan started last year and I want to mention what she said: “The power and effectiveness of SUs can be told to people by personal stories. As being the face of the project I would like to collect the stories of participants and organisers including funny stories and small anecdotes about what changes in their life after this unique experience and create a blog/page with different sections and multimedia.”
Also, one of the most important thing for me is to motivate people to fill in the evaluation form because it is a really a big thing for a local, especially for the SU project itself, and not so many people give credit to this short but very helpful form.
That is just a little part of all, I still have a lot of ideas but I will have to work with the team to make them possible!
The AEGEEan: Why do you think that you are good for SUCT and why should people vote for you?
Actually, I cannot convince everybody to vote for me because most people do not know me, but try to ask the ones that met me somewhere in Europe or my local. Probably I am just a little point in this big network but all the people that trusted me, never complained.
Between local events, Summer Universities as well as participant and organiser, Autumn Agora Cagliari and other events, I guess I have the right experience to try to be a SUCT member.
I know that I will do my best and I will spend all my time and all my energy to Summer University project because I really care about it and I hope that this will be enough.
Written by Raluca Radu, AEGEE-Cluj-Napoca
You can read his full candidature here.