How did you choose to study at IIRPS VU? What do you like most about it?

Studying at IIRPS VU is like a key to the future, and after graduating here, the possibilities are extensive, as the knowledge provided is very versatile.

This is why I like the nature of the studies themselves, which are not focused on specific knowledge but rather on the development of different ways of thinking and analysing.

When you first started your studies, you put them on hold because of the military; why did you decide to become a volunteer?

Joining the military was not a spontaneous choice during my studies; it was a decision I had already made in the twelfth grade, seven months before I started my studies. All my life up to that point, I had been saying to everyone that I would not be a recruit because the military system was not acceptable to me, and I would not survive nine months of service. But that is the beauty of life; it is unpredictable. I took up this challenge with ten of my friends, with whom I was joining the military, to have fun, and even though I completed the service in a completely different place than all my friends, it only helped to clarify my actual goals and reasons why I joined the military.

I realised that life is not always about what you want to do, and although we are all the architects of our destiny and often choose things that are pleasant to us, some things are more meaningful than ourselves, and for me, it has always been my homeland, for which I felt obliged to do my duty, not only in words but also in actions.

You are currently the International Affairs Coordinator at LiJOT; what do you like most about this position?

The flexibility and the mandate of trust.

The organisation offers a lot of flexibility to spread and implement your ideas. It is a place where even the craziest ideas are welcomed, where there is no fear of breaking standards, and where it is possible to reach out to young people and youth organisations.

My own position allows me not only to travel to various parts of Europe and the world but also to understand how strong youth policy is in Lithuania and that we are one of the few who have managed to change the constitution of our country in favour of young people.

You have been active in various youth organisations for a long time. Could you name the achievements or works that you are most proud of in the field of youth politics?

Although I personally do not feel I have done or achieved much, I am happy that together with the youth of Lithuania, we have managed to change the constitution of our state, which has only made it even more powerful for young people to dream and act.

You are the Human Resources Coordinator at VU SR IIRPS; how did you decide to become one? What do you expect from this organisation?

In my first year, I was a simple member of the Students’ Representation, and I was very happy to be able to be just that after so many responsibilities in the field of youth politics. Because it allowed me to discover the other side of the Institute and the whole university – the community. That is why I did not refuse the invitation to take up this position this year because I wanted as many students as possible to be able to experience what I have experienced and to take away from the Institute not only academic knowledge but also good, meaningful time and, above all, friends.

I very much hope that this organisation will continue to be a place that brings the community together, educates students, and allows them to blossom in every possible field.

What would you like to wish the IIRPS VU community?

To not be afraid to make mistakes in what we discuss and do, and most importantly, to remember that even the most brilliant ideas are worthless if we do not share them with others.