1. What is ESN for you?
This may sound pretty unoriginal but ESN, for me, is mostly people with whom I have the opportunity to create something huge, something that matters not only for us but also for others. It is the people who become friends :) 

2. What were your beginnings in ESN?
Almost from the very beginning of my activity at the local level I was involved in the work of the PR group. My first challenge that I took was creating a logo for my section’s 10th birthday. The battle I fought with Photoshop definitely did not belong to the most successful ones (many of those who attended my workshops were able to see it for themselves). But with every graphic it was only getting better! For the real beginning of my ESN activity and at the same time my first time with the national level I consider the NP Warsaw (Merry Platform) organized by my section in December 2016. As a newbie (I was in the section for around 3 weeks) I got involved in preparing the meeting and I got inspired by the possibilities of development in the association. As a result I was running and eventually got chosen as my section’s vice delegate a month later. The rest is history :D 

3. How has ESN changed your life? Why have you joined?
It has turned my life around! In the past, I was bored after university and watched series. Now I don’t know what boredom is. Everyday brings new challenges and I think I can’t live any differently. As many people I joined ESN by accident. I have heard about our organisation from my friend who just joined one of the local sections in Cracow. At the beginning, me and my friends couldn’t understand what is going on with the continuous “spam” and regular changing of Facebook covers. Before the academic year start, out of pure curiosity, I have checked whether “the whole” ESN is also present at Warsaw University of Technology. It turned out that not only do we have ESN but also there is a recruitment meeting coming shortly. I thought to myself “do or die!”, went to the meeting and… stayed a bit longer.
 

4. If you were an ESN project which one would you be and why? 
It would be one of the national projects, to be precise - Discover Europe! I chose DE because of its PR-artistic character. In my secondary school times I was passionate about photography, going for long walks with my camera and PR is present since the beginning of my adventure with ESN.
 

5. #FunFact from your ESN life
First event that I was organizing in my section was also an event organized with my mentees for a contest for the angel-newbies teams. It was supposed to be the first event for newly recruited members but it was also my first event. Memorable social event with a gripping name “Decorating Easter Eggs” a few months later got nominated for #esnPWstar award in category “Golden raspberry”. (Un)fortunately we didn’t get the first place. 
 

6. Did you ever go on Erasmus+ exchange? What is your most interesting experience from Erasmus? 
I haven’t yet participated in an exchange within the Erasmus+ Programme but who knows what the future holds! Sometimes I say that I have already experienced my “Erasmus” by living with my friends in southern England for the holidays 2015 and 2016. Altogether 6 months spent in a foreign country were a great opportunity to meet other cultures and people from all over the world. They also abounded in many incredible adventures which I reminisce with a tear in my eye to this day. 
 

7. Where do you get your inspiration and motivation from? 
From smiles on faces and positive feedback about my work that I get from others. When I see that something that I make has meaning and influence on other people’s lives then I have the sense that it is worth pursuing and constantly working in that field :)
 

8. Favourite place on Earth?
Actually, any place if I am there with people who are close to me and which I care about. I assume that with the right clique, the place where we’re in becomes secondary. But if I had to choose one location, it would be Eastbourne, the seaside English town where I spent my “Erasmus” which I mentioned before.
 

9. Have you discovered any hidden skills that you were unaware of before thanks to ESN?
Oh, definitely yes! If it wasn’t for ESN I wouldn’t be probably able to create graphics. I wouldn’t also have the possibility to try myself as a trainer, team leader or a conference organizer for almost 200 participants! I could mention a lot of these possibilities of development of skills (both soft and hard) but I think it would be best if you reach for them yourselves and take the incredible challenges that await you in our organisation. Who knows maybe you are the next national coordinator, project OC member or even board member of ESN Poland? ;)

Translation: Sonia Łomnicka