welcome to INDIANA💜

PDO officially came to an end yesterday, and these past few days have been such a whirlwind. We finally got to meet everyone, learned A LOT, and somehow made so many memories in just a few days. and now… we’re already at the airport waiting for our flight to Frankfurt ✈️ we’re super, super excited because by the end of today, we’ll finally be in Washington, D.C. 🤍

day 1 of PDO 🇺🇸 after such a long journey to Warsaw, it feels so good to finally have everyone here together, cause we’ve all been waiting for this moment for so long, and now we’re actually here! the people are amazing, and there’s so much happening that it’s hard to believe this is only day one. can’t wait to see what the next few days bring. i can’t take photos or videos during the lectures and activities, so these are just a few moments from outside the sessions :)

💚 Aspire High School Right after Discover Academy, I traveled to Romania for another summer program - Aspire High School. Looking back, I can honestly say it was my favorite program I've ever attended. Aspire was founded by Harvard and Stanford alumni and brings together high school students from different countries for a week of lectures, workshops, case studies, networking, and team projects. One of the things that impressed me the most was the speakers. During just a few days, we had sessions led by professors and professionals from universities including Harvard, Georgetown, UCLA, and many others. They shared practical advice about leadership, careers, university admissions, and life - things that are rarely discussed in school. Besides the academic part, the community made this program unforgettable. Everyone was genuinely curious, motivated, and excited to learn. I met people from different countries who shared similar interests, and many of those conversations continued long after the sessions ended. The regular program fee is $1,000, but Aspire offers generous financial aid, including full scholarships, so don't let the price stop you from applying. 📌My advice: if you're interested in leadership, entrepreneurship, public policy, business, or simply want to challenge yourself and meet incredibly ambitious people, Aspire is definitely worth applying to. The application is competitive, but if you have a strong story and genuine motivation, don't hesitate to try. P.S. While I'm writing this, my suitcases are already packed because tomorrow I begin my journey to the U.S. 🇺🇸 More posts about the programs I attended this summer are coming soon!

a little reminder that you can always message me anonymously :) whether it's about applications, exchange programs, or literally anything else, i'll be happy to answer here: http://t.me/anonaskbot?start=user_ihxjiecjoi

🇸🇰 Discover Academy A few weeks ago, I spent an unforgettable week at Discover Academy in Kráľova Lehota, Slovakia, and it was so much more than just a summer school. Discover is built around the idea that learning should be driven by curiosity. Instead of a fixed curriculum, participants choose from more than 70 different courses taught by university students, researchers, and professionals in their fields. The program combines academics with personal growth, encouraging students to explore new interests, challenge their perspectives, and connect with like-minded people from around the world. I chose Political Philosophy and Linguistics, which were both incredibly engaging. We discussed democracy, justice, political ideologies, language, and how the way we communicate shapes the way we think. But honestly, some of my favorite moments happened outside the classroom. We went hiking in the Low Tatras, worked in teams to complete different challenges, attended workshops, played sports, spent hours playing board games, and had conversations that somehow always lasted much longer than planned. There was always something happening, and the atmosphere made it so easy to meet people from different countries and backgrounds. By the end of the week, it really felt like a community. One of my favorite memories was learning how to play the piano thanks to my friend Lizа🎹 The participation fee is around €400, but Discover offers full and partial financial aid to make the program accessible regardless of financial background. That's exactly how I was able to attend, so don't let the cost stop you from applying. If you're looking for an international summer program that combines academics, personal development, and an amazing community, I can't recommend Discover Academy enough. P.S. while I'm sharing this experience, you can already catch a glimpse of my current adventure on my insta. I'm now attending another international program in Romania, and I'll tell you all about it very soon🫶🏽

i've been a little quiet lately, but i promise there's a reason for that🩶 these past few weeks have been filled with new places, inspiring people, and opportunities i can't wait to tell you about. so many updates are coming soon! in the meantime, i've been sharing more little moments on my insta, so if you're curious, that's where you'll find them :>

A little update from the FLEX program 📝 Today me and Liza had our first PDO-meeting! We got to know other participants, learned more about the program, and honestly... the vibe here is already amazing!! Can't wait to see what the next few weeks bring 🤍

🇪🇺 European Youth Parliament (EYP) I know I've been a little quiet here lately. 👀 I'm currently attending a summer program (which I'll definitely tell you more about soon!), so my schedule has been pretty busy. In the meantime, I've been sharing little updates on my Instagram stories if you'd like to follow along. As promised, today's post is about another opportunity that has had a huge impact on my journey — the European Youth Parliament. If you're interested in politics, law, international relations, diplomacy, or simply enjoy discussing important issues with people from different countries, EYP is definitely something you should know about. The European Youth Parliament is one of the largest youth organizations in Europe. Every year, thousands of students participate in national and international sessions where they work in committees, discuss real political and social issues, draft resolutions, and debate them in a format inspired by the European Parliament. More importantly, EYP is much more than debates—it's about teamwork, leadership, critical thinking, and meeting incredible people from all over Europe. My journey with EYP has been much longer than just attending one session. I had the honor of representing Ukraine at the National Selection Conference in Strasbourg, where I was a delegate in the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and later delivered a speech on behalf of my committee during the General Assembly in European Parliament. Afterwards, I became a Project Coordinators' Assistant, helping organize international events and support participants from different countries. I also joined the organizing team of the Study Visit for Rebuild Ukraine Ambassadors, where I coordinated communication with partner organizations and the International EYP Office. Looking back, EYP has probably improved my confidence more than any other program. It taught me how to speak in front of hundreds of people, defend my ideas, work in multicultural teams, and collaborate with people whose opinions were completely different from my own. Some of my closest international friendships also started there. Would I recommend applying? YES YES YES. Even if you don't plan to study politics in the future, EYP develops skills that are valuable in almost every field!! 📌 My advice: don't worry if you don't know everything about politics before applying. What really matters is showing genuine curiosity and having previous experience in activities connected to your interests—whether that's volunteering, student government, debates, Model UN, community projects, or leadership initiatives. EYP looks for motivated young people who are willing to learn!!

little life update 🇺🇸 our online Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) is finally starting!! 🥹 this is the first official orientation before departure, where we'll learn more about the exchange year, life with a host family, cultural differences, expectations, and everything we need to know before flying to the US. after that, we'll have the in-person PDO in Warsaw right before departure... which somehow makes everything feel so much more real. i'll definitely share some updates and behind-the-scenes over the next few days :)

The Ethical Leadership Experience (TELE) When I first applied to TELE, I honestly expected it to be "just another online program", and I couldn't have been more wrong. The Ethical Leadership Experience is an international leadership program organized by LAJF (The Louis August Jonas Foundation). It brings together students from over 30 countries to work on real-world challenges related to human rights, ethics, public policy, and leadership. The program is quite competitive, especially if you're applying for financial aid. The tuition is $400, but scholarships are available. I was fortunate to receive one of the highest scholarships, which made it possible for me to participate. The biggest surprise for me was how interactive everything was. People often underestimate online programs, but during TELE we worked together almost every weekday for around five hours. Between workshops, discussions, meetings with mentors, interviews, and teamwork, there was barely a moment to get bored. The highlight of the entire experience was definitely my team. Together, we researched a human rights topic, interviewed lawyers, youth advisors, and professionals working in the field, and eventually wrote a research paper based on everything we had learned. If anyone would like to read it, I'd be happy to share it. Another experience I'll never forget was leading one of the sessions together with my teammate from Greece. We facilitated a discussion about feminism, comparing perspectives from Greece, Ukraine, and other countries. It was fascinating to see how differently the same topic can be viewed depending on culture and personal experience. Looking back, TELE wasn't just about leadership—it was about collaboration. It taught me how to work in an international team, communicate across cultures, conduct interviews, and build something meaningful with people I'd never met before. 🔎My advice: if you're thinking about applying, don't worry if you've never done academic research before. What matters much more is having genuine interest in your topic and a strong portfolio of activities related to it—whether that's volunteering, debate, youth organizations, advocacy, or personal projects. TELE values students who have already shown long-term commitment to the issues they care about. Overall, this was one of my favorite programs this year, and I would absolutely do it again💁🏼‍♀️