Humans of IIRPS VU. Simonas Davidavičius

How did your path to IIRPS VU begin? In your opinion, what makes studies at IIRPS VU unique?

My path to IIRPS VU began quite unexpectedly, to be honest. At first, I planned to study in the Netherlands, at Leiden University, but I couldn’t find accommodation. IIRPS VU was my backup choice. At first, I was very upset, I thought that I would unnecessarily spend the first year of my studies in the same places with the same people. However, I got rid of this attitude right after the first day at the freshman camp. I think this is what makes studies at IIRPS VU unique. Of course, the academic level is very high, and when I talk to my friends abroad, I find that I am learning similar, even more complex things. But uniqueness comes from the community, from the people who surround you: fellow students, members of the VU Student Representation (VU SR), or senior students.

You are a student of the Politics of Global Challenges (PGC) program – why did you choose this program and what does it provide you?

I chose Politics of Global Challenges because it is closest to what I wanted to study abroad. After learning that I will not spend my university years in the Netherlands in the near future, I decided to experience at least some level of internationality in Lithuania. The studies are very interesting and thanks to them I discovered topics and aspects that interest me. IIRPS VU and PGC program allowed me to discover a community and a group of friends where I feel accepted. It may sound a little cliché, but this is probably the aspect of our program that has improved me the most Although I live in the same place where I have lived all my life, thanks to my classmates and friends I have the chance to see everything from a different perspective and even discover new beauty in the well-known Vilnius.

You are the chairman of the VU Debate Club – tell us about your daily activities in this organization: what activities you are involved in, what challenges you have to face, etc.

That is a difficult question. Starting with the day-to-day activities, as a chairman I deal with the administrative aspects of the club: I reserve rooms for club activities, communicate with other clubs like VU SR and so on. Our club deals with what is written on the label – we debate! I won’t go into details, but in short, our club teaches members critical and quick thinking and prepares them for international debating competitions. As for the challenges, I have to admit that they are much more dependent on the mentality than the performance of the club. As a chairman, I often try to take on too much and maybe burn myself out because of that. However, thanks to my team members, I am learning to share the work and understand that not everything depends on what I do or say.

What does your free time look like? Maybe you have any special interests?

I feel that my free time is not much different from an average student. Besides debating, I go to the bouldering gym, I like to watch series or play computer games. I also like to paint mini figurines, although due to lack of time, I can’t really afford it at the moment. Also, I consider myself an aspiring fiction writer who is actively looking for critiques and more opportunities to gain experience in the writing field.

What would you wish for the IIRPS VU community?

I would like three things for the IIRPS VU community. First, I would like to say a big thank you to the entire IIRPS VU community that even these words cannot express my gratitude. Thanks to this community, I’ve been able to overcome my own barriers and let myself be true to who I am, not to mention a hundred other things I’m grateful for. Second, I would like to wish strength and endurance. No matter how dark the road ahead is, remember that there is always light at the end, that the sun will always rise and drive away all evil and anger. The most important thing is not to give up. Finally, don’t take everything to heart. As my dear friend Matas likes to say, “It’s not that deep”. These words, as simple as they sound, are extremely deep and powerful. People love to blow bubbles over the smallest mistakes or troubles. I myself, more often than most, feel guilty about this. But it’s always a good idea to step back, take a deep breath, and let myself know that it’s not all about me, that the problems aren’t so deep, and that everything can be solved with a simple conversation.