Humans of IIRPS VU. Lukas Eigėlis

Tell us about the beginning of your journey to IIRPS VU and your studies at the institute. What aspects fascinate you the most?

While in high school, I did not consider other options – being interested in political processes at the time and convinced that my present and future lay in Lithuania, I knew I would end up at IIRPS VU. The first semesters provided a warm, intellectual community of peers and improved the quality of the texts I produced.

What I did not know before enrolling – but something every high school student considering political science should be aware of – is the access that comes with being a IIRPS VU student. Every state institution, ministry, or politician will open their doors wide and give you an up-close view of public sector work, provided you show interest and ambition. This is something my colleagues from foreign universities often cannot boast about.

You are currently a fourth-year IIRPS VU student. Tell us about your professional internship experience: where did you complete it, what did it teach you, and where do you plan to apply the knowledge you gained?

I spent three months working in Brussels at Lithuania’s Permanent Representation to the European Union, the headquarters of diplomats representing Lithuania’s interests in the EU Council. Beyond the obvious benefits – seeing the EU institutional structure in practice, learning the intricacies of negotiation, and gaining extensive knowledge about European affairs – this fall, I also familiarized myself with various networking methods.

This was not my first moving abroad to Western Europe, so multiculturalism and unique waste management practices were not challenges – but perhaps the fact that I can say that now is itself an experience. So far, I enjoy European living, and as for what I’ll do with all this knowledge and these skills – who knows? Life is unpredictable, and career paths are winding. I’m open to all possibilities.

You are an active student with experience in non-governmental organization (NGO) activities. Why do you think it is important for young people to get involved in such initiatives? 

We often throw around the phrase “civic education” without really explaining to young people what it means. But it is important. NGO activities serve as a reminder that each of us is part of the state, and being a good citizen starts with everyday actions. Have you paid attention to what’s happening in your local government? Have you sent a message to your parliamentary representative? Have you fact-checked information before sharing a post on Facebook?

NGOs also provide many life-enhancing skills – work ethic, clear communication, event planning, and respect for colleagues’ time. (Later, when these youth NGO participants enter the job market, they are often surprised that not everyone has these skills, making their own career paths much easier.) Teams and collectives also serve an important purpose: they push you to leave your house and do something because the world doesn’t change if you’re just lying on the couch.

In the organizations I have been a part of or founded, I have found my closest friends. These activities attract the kinds of people who only make life better for everyone.

It seems debates have become an integral part of your life. You founded the “Vilnius Debate Society,” bringing together a team of excellent debaters. Tell us how you came up with this idea and what this activity has taught you. 

It wasn’t until I read the question that I realized this adventure is already five years old! At sixteen, I stumbled upon this community by chance and was not very active at first, but within a year, my friends and I started talking about how working together could make everything easier – from improving our own skills to mentoring young “ducklings”. This led to me, just two days after turning eighteen, heading out to get an electronic signature so I could send documents to the Register of Legal Entities. What happened next, as they say, is history.

Debates taught me teamwork, concise speaking, and clear thinking – skills that are rarely accessible to teenagers. Even rarer is for an eighteen-year-old to learn how to handle legal entity accounting and apply for funding competitions. After passing on the association to younger friends, I did not abandon debates, either as a sport or as an educational method. I have judged or organized debate tournaments in most European countries, served on the boards of a few international networks, taught debating at Vilnius Jesuit Gymnasium, and contributed to the revival of the -teenth iteration of the Vilnius University Debate Club (my colleagues are doing great – join them!).

When it all comes to an end, I’ll probably have to write an opus about everything that happened – too many important stories and experiences are begging to be preserved.

What does your free time look like? Do you have any special hobbies? 

I seem to have less and less of it—I often catch myself thinking that I’m living too many lives at once and turning everything into work, something I need to change. To avoid cliché answers, I’ll say that I read books, albeit too few, and travel. I’m particularly drawn to political satire and the importance of humor in our lives and communication.

And cooking! This probably developed during endless business trips and living alone. But perfecting the optimal risotto texture generates a lot of serotonins.

What would you wish for the VU TSPMI community? 

To continue pursuing its excellent goals of being leaders in the development and promotion of political science in our region, to engage more actively in Lithuania’s political life – not just by commenting on it but also by researching it or even participating in it – and to never lose ambition, as it is the key to achieving anything.

And as a representative of public policy, I must advocate (much as I love and respect my friends in the international relations field) for greater focus on our questions and subjects. Also, a complete overhaul of Room 402 with a more modern design and more comfortable chairs wouldn’t hurt. But that’s just a minor current issue – our community is excellent and knows what to do next.