1. What does ESN mean to you?
ESN is a set of challenges and an incredible school of life. You can make mistakes. I know that I spend my time on doing something worth it - achieving goals of a European Network of students. ESN is an investment in our future. Thanks to it we have more options while choosing the career path. It is a perfect everyday life. Nobody who isn’t a part of the organisation would understand it. What other student has a chance to manage hundreds of people, create projects or make decisions concerning foreigners from all over the world? :)
I can’t forget to mention people who are around me. We work together. We motivate and inspire each other. Thanks to being a part of two boards already I have gained new friends who I can count on.
2. How did your ESN adventure start?
Joining the organization back in 2015, I didn’t know what to expect from new, student life. I moved to Krakow and started studying. A month later I was an ESN UEK fresher. What were my beginnings? I could see myself doing only one thing - becoming Sport group coordinator (I’ve never become that though I’ve tried!). During my first year I tried to find my place in ESN, moving from one working group to the other. I wasn’t able to fully engage because as a first-year-student I was afraid of an exam session (maths and macroeconomy really stopped my development in ESN). In the end of my first year, Asia Ciesielska - a vice president of Juwenalia UEK contacted me. By that time she’d been also an ExchangeAbility International Coordinator! She advised me to seize the opportunities that ESN gives and start working. Shortly after that I became ESN’s Fundraising Coordinator at Juwenalia UEK 2017. And it was just the beginning!
3. How did ESN change your life? Why have you joined it?
I wanted to join ESN because I used to be a member of the student’s union in high school. I wanted to be a part of something interesting during studies as well. My very good friend - Maciek Wojak was a member of ESN UEK board back then and he encouraged me to join and give it a try. My facebook wall was always full with his pictures and posts of the organisation. I had to join to see what it’s like with my own eyes! ;)
At first, joining ESN didn’t change much. I met new, cool people and had a chance to practise my English a bit more. My life has changed when I started being a coordinator. I am a person that doesn’t let go until I succeed. That is why I started being super committed to my duties. ESN made me not be afraid of taking risks and facing the hardest of the challenges possible.
4. If you were an ESN project, what would you be?
I would become NEG! I would be able to do two things I love the most: work in ESN and play sports. ;)
5. #FunFact about a life in ESN.
I have two but they are both short!
#Funfact 1
In September 2015, before joining ESN me and my friends took part in an event called “Świętomięs” [meat party]. Isn’t the name fun enough for you? Let me just mention that the main attraction of the evening was Krzysztof Krawczyk’s performance on the square in Rzeszów. And it was free! That day I met a few new people. One of them was the president of ESN UEK, the local section of the university that I was about to start classes at. I loved the vibes so much. I knew that I would want to meet them again. In conclusion, you may say that it was Krzysztof Krawczyk and the smell of the meat party that made me join ESN.
#Funfact 2
At the beginning of May 2017 I wanted to be a part of organising team of Juwenalia UEK 2018. At that point, I had already done a list of artists that could perform during the event. A dozen days later I became the president of ESN UEK. The rest is history.
6. Did you go on the Erasmus+ exchange? / What is the most interesting experience you had so far?
Unfortunately, I haven’t gone on Erasmus+ exchange yet. I hope to do it someday!
7. What inspires and motivates you the most?
What inspires me? It’s the people who I have the pleasure to work with. My busy board that I find new solutions with, all the experienced members who share their advices and offer help, everyone working for ESN Poland - coordinators, committees’ presidents, deputies and all my friends. They inspire, they give new ideas and knowledge. I try to appreciate it everyday.
What motivates me? This is a bit different. It’s the actions that I take. I love doing what I do. Even if sometimes I don’t have enough time to do it all.
8. Favourite place in the world?
I have two answers here as well!
# Filled up Camp Nou - stadium of my favourite football team which I’ve supported since I was a child!
# Łańcut, my hometown where I can spend time with my family and friends.
9. Did ESN help you discover some things you didn’t know you were good at?
I think that there are loads of them. ESN really makes us better. Back in the day I wouldn’t say that I’d be able to present stuff during GPW or panel discussion at a national congress and don’t stress about it.