If you are reading this then you probably know what the European Union is. Unless of course, you come from a very distant land where people don’t follow worldly events and don’t read books/magazines that are/were published outside of your immediate information bubble.
So what is this all about? This is about me. Of course. I currently work at the European Parliament. Roughly four years ago I was a Schuman trainee also at the European Parliament (2018). And then roughly three years ago I was a volunteer at the Parliament of the Republic of Latvia when Latvia held its first presidency of the Council of the European Union (2015). There, is my CV in brief, you can read more details here.
But how and when did this passion or drive for all things EU started? If I think about it long and hard then probably the exact start could be pinpointed at the year 2004, when Latvia was about to join the EU and NATO. I had a lovely history teacher who understood the significance of the event and tasked us to collect as much available information material on Latvia’s joining as possible. This meant collecting brochures, magazine and newspaper articles, and even computer printouts. Luckily my mother was studying at a university and she had access to a computer and a printer. We had to collect all that in one folder and present it in front of the class.
I did well. Collected everything I could and that is how it all began. I did not pursue international relations or a political studies degree. Even though I came close to the former. I took up translation and interpretation. Partly because I liked languages but also because I knew that translators and interpreters were in demand at the EU institutions. Okay, back then I did not know that, but my parents knew.
At the end of my bachelor’s studies, I applied for the first time to a Schuman traineeship. But after an interview at the European Parliament’s office in Riga, I was rejected. To be honest after that (not officially received) rejection I was not so sure about my relationship with the EU institutions. For a moment I thought that it was not for me. But, again luckily, I decided to get a Master’s degree in Legal text translation and my professor asked if I was interested in going to Brussels for a linguistic conference. My first trip to Brussels as well. Of course, I said yes.
And so. My EU spark reignited. After that conference, I again applied for a Schuman traineeship, and with a second try, I managed to pull it off. The experience was amazing and professionally fulfilling. I wanted to stay, but I promised a very important person that I will finish my Master’s studies. I went back to Latvia and wrote a Master’s paper roughly about the GDPR (an EU regulation).
You see. EU has been a part of me since the year 2004 when I had to make that folder. And it will be my future as well. I believe in this project and I want to be part of it both personally and professionally.
If you have a goal. Go for it. It is worth the effort.
Kind regards,
Olaaf
