I'm only in my early twenties and there's so much more, I hope, in the future!

The new year has come, the holidays have come to an end, the new semester is hanging on our noses, and there are many thoughts in our heads. February is such an interesting month, bringing us a day full of love, a day when you seriously think about your homeland and freedom, another one when you eat a lot of pancakes... And February also brings you, or rather presents you, a fresh interview. This time it is Sandra Baltkojytė, who surprises with her modesty, can brighten your day with her sincere laughter, and will definitely make you think with her meaningful and positive thoughts.

Tell me, what are you doing in life right now?

I am really looking forward to summer, I am still getting used to living without the organization that has occupied my life for an intense year, I am still happy with the job I recently acquired. I find time for a book, a film, music searches and I live in anticipation of February, when I will return to my studies, which seem to have just begun, but are already ending (MA in Integrated Communication). I keep thinking that this may be the last semester in my life, which will invite me to the auditoriums for lectures.

What inspires you?

For me, it could be a good movie, a stranger's smile in town, a good quote I found on Pinterest, an unexpected message from a friend on Facebook, a review of Eiko Ishioka's costumes, a moving life story based on experience. The list could be endless. Inspiration can be found everywhere, you just have to let it in.

What are you proud of?

In fact, the joy over the ESN international meeting held in Vilnius City Municipality in December has not yet faded. Council of National Delegates, where about 130 of the most important people in the organization were congratulated by the Vice Minister of Education and Science Rimantas Vaitkus himself. Taking care of the communication of this event and contributing to its implementation was a very fun challenge, which, having successfully coped with it, can only be rejoiced today. And anyway, I think it's not nice to be proud, and maybe I don't have anything to do with it.

Do you love Lithuania? Why?

Come on, I love you. For those lakes in the summer, horizons ending in forests, a unique language and the complex history of our land. And the cheeses. You won't find everything we have here anywhere else. Maybe I'm too sentimental, but it's precious to me, because I grew up with it for 23 years and I will always have a yellow, green, red, and colorful heart, no matter how much I want to give it up, so I don't even plan on doing so. I'd rather be happy with my uniqueness in the world, because I'm one of only 3 million.

Can you call yourself a patriot?

Patriot is a very slippery concept for me. I value my country, I try very hard to represent it properly when I have the opportunity, I am happy when people nod or smile when I say "Lithuania" instead of widening their eyes, and I keep my fingers crossed that my family and friends who stayed here will be successful, and that the country's indicators will only improve. However, I do not think that we are somehow better than others, because everyone is different, everyone is special, but - equal.

What does the word freedom mean to you?

A song by Erika Masytė, which you are one of the few people to learn to play on the guitar (smiles). Also episodes from a documentary about the struggle for Lithuanian independence. And for me, it is an opportunity to live my life based on personal decisions, the realization of which depends only on my skills, efforts and perhaps luck.

If you could turn back time, what would you change?

I would try to sincerely learn foreign languages, to which I devoted enough time, but not attention. I would also no longer limit myself in deciding about the future, I would give myself more of the freedom we just talked about. And I would agree to experience everything else a second time. Especially the study period.

How do you imagine yourself in 10 years?

Anyway – more like me. Smarter, more charming, more witty. With a steady job, a warm, spacious home, someone to share it with, even a Russian blue (smiles). Already visited New Zealand and fluent in at least two other foreign languages. And, of course, maintained contact with such people who are (still) dear to me today, who would periodically visit me for a cup of coffee from the coffee machine, which I also included in my future plans.

What were you like as a child?

I was a very quiet child, more interested in Dragon battles than running around the yard, but I also tried out the duties of the school's mayor and supported candidates for school president, because I didn't really like being in the spotlight. I was very modest and always very responsible for everything and everyone, so maybe it was a little boring. I don't even know, it was a long time ago (smiles).

What was your most memorable adventure as a teenager?

I don't know if it's the most memorable, but the first one that came to mind was when we came up with the idea of introducing diversity to our town, where informal gatherings were only allowed in certain places at certain times. We 5th graders used a lot of hairspray and hair gel to turn our long hair into a mop, which we later dyed green/yellow, we contributed to Senukai's profit by buying chains, which we later pinned to our pants, and we didn't forget to blacken our eyes. In short, we went out into the city neither as punks nor goths, we even went to the school's freshman christening and got more attention than the newbies. The most interesting thing was that people received this performance very positively, they smiled a lot and gave thumbs up. It's very interesting to remember, I hadn't thought about it for years.

If you could go back in time and give yourself advice when you were a teenager, what would it be?

If you don't go after what you want, you'll never get it. If you don't ask and don't ask, the answer will always be no. If you care so much about what other people think, you won't have time to think or live.

What made you choose political science?

Internet searches and the idea that this way I would combine my passion for writing with my analytical skills, learn more about the laws by which politics in Lithuania operates, and encourage myself to learn foreign languages, which are very valuable in diplomacy, as well as in everyday life.

What do you think about today's politicians?

We have various examples. Some are hopeful, and some are disappointing every day, but I hope that a new generation will gradually emerge that will be able to discuss constructively in the Seimas, that will speak several languages fluently, and that will find ways to convince the relevant countries to make the decisions we need.

Why did you choose VMU?

I'll be very honest: because I didn't enroll in the free study program at VU for the same degree. VMU was my second option, but I was also very happy that summer 5 years ago.

Has university changed you?

Very much. At university, I was given the freedom to choose what I wanted to be, and it provided me with the space to train and become that person. Not to mention the knowledge I gained during my 4 years of undergraduate studies, I am continuing to develop it through my master's studies and the people I met at VMU or whom it gave me the opportunity to get to know. An invaluable experience.

What place does ESN occupy in your life?

For three years, ESN was probably my favorite topic, a way to spend my free time, a school for practical development, a source of ideas and a space to realize them. A place where I found a large part of my closest people and personalities from the capital A. I gave it a certain part of myself, so it is natural that it has been very important in my life for a long time.

What do you do/did you do at ESN?

I started my work in the organization by mentoring foreign students coming to VMU with various study exchange programs. Then the previously unheard-of organization ESN VMU appeared, with which I created and implemented many events and projects for foreign students. I started with an international summer camp in 2011, intended for 36 people, and almost finished it with an international conference held in December 2014, a statutory ESN event intended for 130 people. During this period, I acted as the national ESN Lithuania communication coordinator, since I joined the international committee. I also worked for a year in the ESN VMU section as a public relations coordinator, and I ended my term by defending the organization at the rectorate and thus contributing to its official recognition at the university. Together with the team, I organized many conferences of various scales, which we sometimes took care of together with the Education and Exchange Support Fund. I have represented ESN Lithuania at various trainings and conferences abroad on several occasions. The experiences and memories from this period are incredibly numerous and varied. I would probably need to write a new text for them (smiles).

What do you think about the Erasmus exchange program?

It is an experience that you will regret a lot if you don't use it in a few years. It is a school of life and independence, and at the same time a period abroad that will enrich you with new experiences and knowledge. It will open new horizons and encourage you to want something more. I think that by taking the risk of using it, you usually sacrifice only your comfort zone in exchange for changes. From now on, the program called Erasmus+ is associated with my best personal experiences and the beautiful experiences of others.

Do you think a young person is inclined to travel and explore the world?

I think he should be like that. Greedy for knowledge, discoveries, and travel and the world are a big part of that. I think so because I know that I am surrounded by exactly the kind of people for whom quickly packing a backpack and hitting the road would be the start of an unreal adventure, not a stressful thing. Still, we cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that many young people, although they would like to travel, still hesitate to do so or do not find enough funds. Still, with enough motivation and desire, everything is possible today: book bus tickets for 6 EUR, find a place to stay on Couchsurfing and go on a weekend adventure. Isn't that interesting?

Do you like to travel yourself?

Very. Very very very. Even now, my hands are not listening, how I want to search for those round-trip rides for 6 EUR.

Which countries left the biggest impression?

Although I haven't been outside of Europe yet, and the countries are so big - there's so little time to explore them all, I really love and will always love my Erasmus country - Croatia. Also my dream country - France, which I finally visited a few months ago. And then I can't help but mention Florence, Barcelona, Prague, Budapest as the most beautiful cities I've seen.

For you, travel is…

The best way to recharge for the upcoming tasks and relax.

Can you get back on your feet after a hard day at work?

A good conversation with an interesting person and a cup of coffee. Perfect.

Do you love your life? Why?

Very much. Because I work with smiling colleagues, because I can afford to travel sometimes, because I have people around me who are always nice to come back to. Because of a loving family that is always waiting, because of studies that finally suit me. Because I am only in my early twenties and so much more, I hope, awaits me in the future!

What does the word love mean to you in general?

Back in school, my friend and I used to joke that love is everything and that's all we know about it. That's why it's something that exists in books and movies, but is so rarely encountered in real life.

Are you making any New Year's resolutions?

No, but I create resolutions for life that are all in my head. And they are constantly being improved.

Five things you can't live without?

Chocolate. Coffee. Friends. Movies. Travel.

If you caught a goldfish, what would you ask it for?

Good health to myself and my loved ones.

Do you believe in fairy tales?

I didn't believe it and I don't believe it. Life is not a fairy tale, but a drama with possible fairy tale elements, but I have heard wonderful stories among people, and it's not uncommon for something so beautiful to happen to me that it's hard to believe that this is reality.

In your opinion, the best movie is...?

There is no one best, but I really liked it Requiem for a Dream, The Prestige, Donnie Darko and many others. I definitely have to mention Nolan Batman trilogy. And X-Men. And Among the stars How unreally good the last few hours were at the cinema.

What's the nicest thing you've done for someone?

It's very difficult for me to talk about the best, there are very few of them in my life, but I'm very happy that my sister and I finally decided to give our parents tickets to an event for Christmas this year, which we had been planning to invest in for several years. It's good to remember, I hope to repeat it many times.

Song(s) that you can't stop listening to?

Every week it's different. This one would be Hozier - Work Song, Imagine Dragons - I Bet My Life, Family of the Year - Hero.

What would you wish for a VMU student?

To take advantage of all the opportunities that this university provides, instead of sitting at home and watching the same series for the third time. There is something for everyone here: academic activities and specialists in their field, available for consultations and discussions at VMU like nowhere else. Volunteering, which brings together people with similar interests and hobbies, who work towards common goals that they implement together. Study exchanges, which provide opportunities to begin acquaintance with a wide and colorful world. The opportunities that we have today may never happen again, so I invite everyone to take advantage of them now, because lol.

Author: Gabriele Stasiunaite