How did you choose to study at IIRPS VU? What subjects did you find most impressive or enjoyed the most? 

I was unsure about my future field of study for a while. In the twelfth grade, I realised that during my last years at school, I was happiest when I was involved in youth organisations: the European Youth Parliament, the Lithuanian School Students’ Union, and the school’s student council. This made me realise I want to pursue a future in political science. I chose IIRPS VU to learn from the best experts in their field and to be at the centre of political events. The courses I enjoyed the most were the international relations courses such as Central Eurasian Studies, International Relations in the Middle East and American Foreign Policy. These courses made me realise that I wanted to continue to study international politics and make it my career.

You have already written and defended your Bachelor’s thesis; how does it feel to come to the end of your 4-year Bachelor’s studies? How was the process of completing your Bachelor’s thesis?

It is really sad to end this phase of my life, but I think I will feel part of this community for a long time to come. My Bachelor’s thesis was on Iran-Iraq relations, so I had to learn a lot of new information. I chose a rather complex topic because I wanted my Bachelor’s thesis to give me the opportunity to delve into a new area and broaden my knowledge. The process of writing this Bachelor’s thesis was really facilitated by working together with my study mates, sharing my experiences, and collaborating with lecturers not only from IIRPS but also from the universities I went to during my exchange.

During your studies, you went on exchange in France and America; how do you evaluate this experience? Would you recommend other students to take advantage of this opportunity?

These two study exchanges at SciencesPo and the University of Northern Colorado have been the best experiences of my life so far, allowing me to see the world and experience different cultures. The exchanges have given me a lot of opportunities and freedom to act, travel, learn many new and unexpected things, and challenge myself in new areas. For example, during my exchange in the US, I joined swimming and tennis teams, and in the Champagne region of France, I learnt the intricacies of champagne and wine production and tasting in university classes. I also made many wonderful friends during my exchange, with whom I am still in touch and still meet today, despite the thousands of kilometres. I would not hesitate to recommend everyone to go on a study exchange at least once in their lifetime and have a life-changing experience. 

You are currently doing an internship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; how are you getting on? How did your studies at VU TSPMI help you to find your career path?

This is my third internship, and I am very happy about it. I like the highly dynamic nature of the work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the constantly changing tasks that allow me to challenge myself. I also think it is a really great place to learn, as I learn a lot of new things every day in the European Union Department, and I have a wonderful supervisor who is like a mentor. Since I realised during my studies that I am most interested in international relations, I intend to stay in this field both academically and professionally.

What would you like to wish the IIRPS VU community?

I wish the IIRPS community to make the most of every opportunity, not to be afraid to go on adventures alone and to do things that are really interesting and give you a lot of joy. I also wish you a lot of courage, self-confidence and determination to act because, in the end, that is the only way to achieve your goals.