Mini-Erasmus, EuroSchool and my involvement.

  
I am a student. Just as you are. Two years ago I was a high school student and I did not really know what to do. I applied to universities in Bratislava, Brno and Prague. First two options worked out and the first one won. Originally though, I have applied for it only because my schoolmate did and I considered this specialization perspective.

And now? I am second grade student at University. I study at Comenius University, Faculty of Natural Sciences - Geography, regional development and European integration (I always have to take a breath before saying that all out loud). I think that Slovak education system has major catching up to do and post-communist rooms of my Faculty scared me a bit ever since the beginning. It is worth saying that I am one of the luckier ones. Even after uncertain start and realization that I have to sit here also during some obligatory (and boring) lessons - I love my studies. Because to be honest, the boring ones are replaced by those with teachers that are true professionals speaking about their job with passion. Also the scary communist areas are slowly reconstructed - brand new research center is being build right next to them. 

So this is who I am. But how did I appeared here, you might ask. How did I end up with EuroSchool? Actually good things come to us by complete coincidence. When this project first started back in September 2014, my good friend Miro mentioned it on Facebook and it quickly interested me. There was no harm in asking if I can join, was it? So we met - firstly only with Tomáš Hajdušek (he had to check out who I am). I woke up with cold that day. Thought I would never get out of bed but I made it! We sat down, had a tea, spoke about the project and expectations. And now? I am part of a collective of great people which are not only my colleagues but dare I say - friends. I am Jana Kocianová and I am a part of FGE team.

But what is now important for you, if you are high school student? I want to tell you how our activities really look. I want to introduce to you our most actual one: Mini-Erasmus. So how would that start for you?

1. You sign in via online form choosing the specialization you are interested in. We send you confirmation e-mail. Next days after that another one comes in which you will find out whether we have chosen you or not (with appropriate instructions).

2. You are chosen. Pack up your things and come to your Mini-Erasmus city day before it starts (Sunday usually). Like this, you will have a chance to get to know your new schoolmates.

3. Congratulations! You have just become University student (just sort of temporary actually, but you get the point :) ). Well, you do things as normal first grade students do, but what we give you, in case you are lost, are tutors that will show you around and answer all your questions. You ask, discuss, listen. You gain information. Information about what your life could look like in a year or two. Advantage, isn’t it? The main one is that you are here only for “test” and now have more information than ever to consider everything one more time thoroughly.

         

4. You experience few days in new city with new people. Aside lectures, we prepare for you rich program filled with discussions with successful people and workshops that can move you        forward. We show you that living in Europe is advantage, because we know that you did not even have a chance to get in touch will all the opportunities it offers you. Aside of that - we can be friends. We can just sit down, have a coffee and talk. Tired? Rest. Tomorrow is a day too. Want to do things yourself? Evening is in your hands! (provided you are 18!).

And the most important thing folks. At the end of second Mini-Erasmus in Bratislava, you were asked - if you liked this project. Well, all of the hands present were risen up. Something like this confirms to us that what we do, is worth doing it. That it can really improve and change lives. And now we want to continue in things we love so one day more and more high school students and not only in Slovakia could experience our projects. Thanks to you, it is all worth it.

Janka Kocianová (FGE)