3 minute read
The Path Into Summer University Project
Almost everyone passes the same path of feelings when you discover AEGEE and you discover a Summer University.
It’s a typical day at your university. You’re bored of studying in the library and you go to take a walk; outside, along the corridors… and suddenly you see in the announcements wall, a very colorful poster. On that poster, you can see people having fun, laughing and hugging and it’s written: Do you want to have the SUmmer of your life? 2 weeks, 30 friends, 14EUR/night…This sounds so interesting. “Of course I’m in”
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And this is what people usually felt during their first Summer University: Being with people of so different cultures and, despite that, tolerance, acceptance and friendship, are able to break all those differences and generate an unique feeling, a feeling of union, a feeling that lasts forever.
A Summer University, is one of the events with the greatest potential to make the association known, recruit and motivate new members. It is an unique experience that everyone should pass through. This project is an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone, learn to handle yourself, organise your trip, learn to talk almost 24 hours a day in English, meet people so different and feel really accepted among them. An opportunity to get to know different cultures than your
Written by Laura García Member of AEGEE-A Coruña
own and to break all kinds of barriers and prejudices, that you could have had before. During a Summer University you have the chance to get to know more about the association and in which things you can get involved (for example thematic groups, Committees, Commissions and other teams). The Summer University Coordination Team are the people taking care of the entire project. During our general assembly, you see those people running for these positions with all the love and motivation for this project and you think “Of course I want to be part of them, someday”. Most people start becoming an assistant of SUCT, to help in some of their tasks. Getting involved in the project, is not just being SUCT, you can also be part of the organising team for your local. Being organiser of a Summer University is also a beautiful experience. Just to see a smile and a “thank you for this unique experience” from your participants it makes you feel incredible. You can actually transfer the passion for this association and for this project to other people that, afterwards, would get involved also at different levels. Being SUCT is really hard, but really fulfilling, you have in your hands all the project and its well-being, you need to make it work completely. You learn how to deal with deadlines, how to deal with different people, and you develop a lot of skills to solve problems. But, most importantly, you see how the network is committed with the project and the awesome ideas they have for their events: Thematic Summer Universities, amazing excursions, a lot of culture to share and many more.
After being SUCT, it seems that is not enough and most of the people became assistants again, because there is no better feeling than helping this project work. This is the path all members experienced: Joining the project, getting active on more levels and falling in love with AEGEE in all its facets.
