In part four of the AEGEE Golden Times review of 2012 and preview on 2013 you will find the memories and expectations of Sygrit Andringa, Marko Grdošić, Diana Ondza, Olga Volovyk, Mathieu Soete and Mayri Tiido.

Sygrit Andringa, former Secretary of the Agora and EBM, Health4Youth Project

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2012?
Working in the Chair Team. Even though my term as Secretary of the Agora and EBM was a challenging one, where I at times was the only one in the team, I did get the opportunity to do tasks for the Chair Team I would otherwise not have been able to do. This I liked a lot. Getting a standing ovation at the end of Agora Budapest was amazing and felt like a great reward for all of this!
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2012. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
The vote of confidence, together with everything that happened with it at Agora Enschede.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2013?
Trying to slow down a bit, I’ve started my masters degree and should really study now. Unfortunately – or maybe good for my study – the city I study and live now doesn’t have an AEGEE local, but I’ll leave it to others to start one. I’ll become an alumnus of AEGEE-Groningen and will probably join AEGEE-Utrecht. For sure I’ll be working for the Health4Youth project. As it will be my last or one of my last years as an AEGEE member – I aspire to work outside of Europe after my masters – I’d like to go on my last Summer University this summer. Also I would love to go to Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus as I haven’t been there yet and I feel like I can’t quit AEGEE before I’ve been there. Finally I’d love to go to an Agora once more as a visitor and enjoy the Agora from the other side. But I really hope my study schedule doesn’t interfere too much with these plans.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2013?
I think there will be a lot, but for sure I hope the Health4Youth project will be among them! We will do our best to make young people pursue a healthy lifestyle in 2013 and make them aware of the importance of it.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2012 and why?
Related to my tasks I’d say the main coordinators of EBM Izmir (Doruk Karaca, Tunca Ayyildiz, Sercan Baykal), Agora Enschede (Hanke Nijman) and Agora Budapest (Márton Demeter). It was great to work with the different teams and the main coordinators and they all did an amazing job! And I’d really like to mention the people of the Chair Team here, Yvonne, Ilija, Alma, Rob, Thomas, Alberto, Lucille and of course the one that stuck with me all term long, Mariella! We had quite some challenges during the year, but also had a lot of fun and great moments to remember!
How/where will you spend New Year’s night?
Don’t know yet, I would have loved to spent it in Maribor again, or another place in Europe, but being a student without a job at the moment I will be wise this time, save my money and spend NYE in the Netherlands, but for sure it will be with AEGEE people!

Marko Grdošić, Liaison Officer, former President of AEGEE-Europe

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2012? 
Considering what an AEGEE year 2012 was for me, it is hard to mention one thing. All the great achievemnts will stay as a nice memory, but nothing can compare with the group hug of my team from August.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2012. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
Everyone who has attended the Agora Enschede, should always remember the great honor we had to talk again with our dear Franck, sadly for the last time. These short sessions have triggered lots of AEGEE minds and already affect a lot of our activities. There is of course Agora Budapest, where the great enthusiasm of the new CD as well as plenty of their achievements were visible and show that they are leading AEGEE into a great direction.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2013?
Working as the Liaison Officer towards the European Youth Forum will keep my agenda quite busy. There are also a few ideas are on my mind regarding different funding applications. I will probably miss the EBM, due to my work obligations, but I’ll do my best to go for the Agorae.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2013?
Definitely the future of Europe. We have the great “Europe on Track” project taking place these days and an EBM with a similar focus. It is time that AEGEE as a representative of European students gives a clear vision of tomorrow and puts it on the agenda of the Institutions.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2012 and why?
There are plenty of people who deserve to be mentioned. Three organising teams of absolutely wonderful statutory events, chair team, project team members (with a big thanks to Diana Leszko for an enthusiasm one can rearly see), the AEGEEan team, Gunnar for showing that true AEGEE spirit never dies, Fabian, Anchy for making the CDs dance Italiana and reach popularity all over Croatian media, my mum for being a CD member in shadow. And 17 great enthusiasts who devoted their days and nights in Brussels and made 2012 a really memorable one.
How/where will you spend New Year’s night?
I plan to go back to Croatia for holidays, and spend the New Year’s Eve with some of the closest friends of mine. These days are one of the rare ones where I manage to afford this pleasure.

Diana Ondza, Key to Europe Team, Former AEGEE-Riga Vice-President

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2012?
Being a member of the Key to Europe team was a very nice experience. I had an opportunity to look through all previously published Keys, I met and worked together with creative, supportive and wonderful AEGEEans, visited probably the most beautiful city in Germany – Heidelberg, which resulted in tangible, visible and purposeful outcome: the Key to Europe 2011/2012.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2012. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
Even though I was not present, I do remember the wave of surprises at the Spring Agora Enschede.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2013?
Honestly, nothing too special. I will continue to assist my antenna AEGEE-Riga remotely, but hope that they will need my help as little as possible. Most likely I will re-activate myself by the end of 2013.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2013?
Well, currently there are several working groups, committees, locals in AEGEE which are working hard and have ambitious goals. To indicate one – the recently appointed Policy Officers and the work they are about to do deserve my support and admiration.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2012?
Luis Alvarado Martinez! I just have a feeling that he is making a change in AEGEE. He knows how to motivate, encourage, inspire, dare, achieve, not to give up.
How/where will you spend New Year’s night?
In York, UK. I wish I know something more.

Olga Volovyk, PR Responsible of AEGEE-Kyiv, AEGEEan editor, SU25 Booklet journalist

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2012?
Agora-Enschede and everything that happened there – even though I wasn’t present.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2012. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
Since Anna Gots is from AEGEE-Kyiv, the most memorable for me was her becoming financial director.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2013?
I’ve recently been elected PR Responsible of AEGEE-Kyiv, so I’m planning to develop in this area and improve the image of my antenna on the local level. Apart from that, I’m also working on the SU25 booklet and hope to do my best with the articles for it.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2013?
Perhaps the results of the “Europe on Track” project? I don’t really know as I’m probably not that much involved.    
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2012?
I was amazed with Luis as the new president and everything he does in his new role. I was very impressed. The second person for me is Stephanie Müller, who has been doing an amazing job as edit-in-chief of the AEGEEan magazine.
How/where will you spend New Year’s night?
Still open for suggestions, but most probably with my family.

Mathieu Soete, AEGEE Policy Officer, Former EnWG Speaker

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2012?
The 12 months from July 2011 were for me one extended upbeat to the largest international conference in UN history, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, or Rio+20. My personal AEGEE highlight was therefore the side-event AEGEE organised at this huge gathering in Rio de Janeiro: a panel discussion with members of civil society but also EU Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potocnik. Happening far away from our own lives, this highlight perhaps did not reach a lot of members, but it reached a lot of people at the highest political levels, and was as such a big achievement for the thematic workers of AEGEE.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2012. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
2012 for me can be captured in two spine-chilling moments of silence, one at each of the Agorae this year. The first moment was at Agora Enschede, when 800 students of 40 nationalities stood silent for two minutes, remembering the insanity of war which has ripped our continent apart twice in the past century. Their grandfathers and great-grandfathers perhaps faced each other on opposite sides of the trenches or in the streets of Europe’s bombed-out cities, but partly thanks to the EU project and AEGEE, they could share this moment of ultimate connection and peace. The other minute was the one remembering the passing away of Franck Biancheri. The announcement of his death during the opening ceremony of Agora Budapest really gripped me, having discussed with him only a couple of months before. AEGEE and Franck have had their dark times, but I believe that every AEGEE member past, current, and future is deeply indebted and grateful to Franck for creating this wonderful project we call AEGEE.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2013?
A couple of months ago I was selected as one of the batch of Policy Officers, working on Sustainability. Most of my work in AEGEE during 2013 will therefore be in this position, collecting input from the network, organising a policy weekend to discuss about this topic and structure the input into a position paper, and contributing to the thematic conference in Brussel next June. I will also continue working on making AEGEE more sustainable, together with the newly elected board and members of Environmental Working Group.
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2013?
After years of absence in Brussels, AEGEE is returning in June 2012 with a big thematic conference to present the work of the Policy Officers. This 4-5 day conference will have sessions on each of the topics, involving youth organisations, AEGEE members, experts, and policy makers, further debating and suggesting follow-up initiatives.
Who was for you the outstanding member in 2012?
For me this is AEGEE-Enschede—in particular its current and previous board—for their constant high-level engagement at both the local and European level, one of the few locals always to be present at our Network Meetings and Nedertops, and their amazing activity at every statutory event. And of course their Agora organising team, for the best Agora I have had the pleasure to attend!
How/where will you spend New Year’s night?
On Jemaa el Fna in the centre of Marrakesh, a glass of fresh orange juice in one hand and a plate of tabbouleh in the other.

Mayri Tiido, Health4Youth Project Manager

What was your personal AEGEE highlight in 2012?
For me it was definitely at Agora Budapest when we, the Health4Youth project team had presented our project at the plenary and everybody accepted it unanimously. I could see CD cheering in the front row and some friends clapping crazily. That felt so good since I had been working hard together with my team for that moment.
AEGEE-Europe had many memorable moments in 2012. Which one do you remember most vividly or was outstanding?
Again I have to mention Agora Budapest and the video greetings from leaders of European Parliament and European Commission. This shows that AEGEE-Europe has a really good reputation in Brussels, now it’s up to us, members to bring that also to our locals.
What are your personal AEGEE plans for 2013?
Due to my position as a project manager I will be mainly busy with the Health4Youth Project. We have a lot of great plans that step by step are coming alive. We have a team that’s working hard and I hope that with the support from network and other student organizations we can achieve a lot in bringing healthy lifestyle to students! What is more, since I’m a trainer in the AEGEE Academy I would also like to have 1-2 training opportunities!
What do you foresee as a highlight or big topic in AEGEE in 2013?
As the CD is busy with the identity of AEGEE, I hope that this will become also a big topic. There are a lot of good thoughts and ideas out there, which we need to find. Our members want to discuss, because AEGEE belongs to all of us and we are all part of it. I hope that there will be a lot of discussions and by the end of 2013 we have an idea what AEGEE is and what it could be.
Who was or were for you the outstanding members in 2012?
I must go with Luis and Miguel from Comité Directeur. Luis because he’s just impossibly passionate about what he does and he does that professionally. What is more, he’s so inspiring that if you tell him “I want to move mountains!”, he will tell you “Lets do it!”. As Miguel is the projects director I have been communicating with him a lot. He is such a great support and of course his experience is very valuable for a starting project. I would like to point out also Alla Resheten, who is a perfect example that while starting a family you don’t have to quit AEGEE and start doing what society expects you to do!
How/where will you spend New Year’s night?
I will travel to Estonia, since I live in the Netherlands now. Either I will stay in my hometown or with my dear twin-sister in Tallinn. Either way, I will party hard to end this amazing year!

Check also the other reviews and previews!

Just click on the links.