Summer Academy Fairy Tales
INSIDE ESTIEM
Agnieszka Szalczyńska
Local Group Gdansk
Agnieszka Szalczyńska
Linas Lazauskas
I have been wondering for a long time: “What is so
Let me tell you my short story called ‘’Summer
special about the Summer Academy? Why do so many
Academy’’. I had the unique chance to personally
people confess it was the best event they have ever
create and live this tale. In short, I was the person who
been to…?” I must say that at first I was a little skeptical
had the honour of being an organiser and a participant
about it, but at the same time I was so curious about
during the two weeks of this journey inside our minds.
the phenomenon of Summer Academy that I not only decided to participate, but organize it. Now that this
So, what is Summer Academy? Officially it’s a project
experience is behind me I have finally understood what
which brings international students together during
is so amazing and different about this project.
summer holidays to engage in open discussion, group work, debate and private study under a senior
You probably think I will now explain how great
Academic Leader. But what is Summer Academy really
Summer Academy is, but you are wrong. I have been
about? The best thing that comes to my mind is a
thinking for many days how to put into words what I
comparison with a journey across the Grand Canyon
have experienced through organizing this project, but
- in the morning, afternoon and evening you can see
there is simply not enough space here to describe
the same canyon in completely different views. In the
every aspect, every single thing that I have learnt and all
morning you can see its calmness and valleys which
that matters to me so much.
are as deep as your own thoughts; in the afternoon it gets cheerful, bright and alive; in the evenings it gets
Linas Lazauskas
Local Group Vilnius
Thanks to the great personalities and approach of
mysterious and all you can and want to see is the moon
professors Dietrich and Toon, Summer Academy is
– the candle of canyon.
not only an academic event, but it’s a time when you change the way you think. Issues such as “thinking
All this is Summer Academy! It may seem that those are
outside the box” or “what it means to be a leader?” are
just some fancy words, but you will remember these
nothing new today…until you just stop only discussing
words when you are sitting in a room with 14 other
about them and you put it all into practice. I’ll definitely
people from all over Europe and you understand one
never forget our “impossible” project of building a
simple idea: you are no longer a Grand Canyon with
highway to the Moon and “Master without master”.
all your deep problems... you are the moon – you are
However, for me Summer Academy meant much more
the Candle.
than participation. It was a result of a few-months preparation. Together with two other organizers,
Summer Academy is an invitation for people who want
Basia and Emilia, we had to take each day of Summer
to find themselves, for people who want to lead others
Academy as a new challenge.
the right way, for people who want to become the People. ■
Two weeks at a small Polish village, almost in the middle of nowhere without modern technology, passed in the blink of an eye, but the memories, knowledge and, what’s most important, inspiration that I gained will forever stay in my mind. ■ 40
ESTIEM Magazine | 45th issue - Internet of Things