MONROE HARTMANN

So, the year 2022 comes to an end. Looking back to last January, I can’t believe how much has happened. For me, it was a year of learning, change and most of all, growth. At the beginning of the year, Omicron was upon us, but hospitalization rates for Covid-19 were gradually going down and the economy within Switzerland was finally opening up. Then, the world went into shock after Putin announced and executed a “special military operation” against Ukraine. The European Youth Parliament responded strongly in support of Ukraine, once again showing what responsible and active citizenship is about.

Within EYP, more and more sessions started to become physical again. And I, late to the party, had the pleasure of attending my first (two!) digital sessions. I was grateful to be a part of an officials team for the first time when I joined the 4th digital session of EYP Switzerland as an organizer. With that experience, I learned how gratifying and enjoyable the world of the European Youth Parliament between sessions and beyond being a delegate can be . Still, my days as a delegate were not over.

The third digital session of EYP CH, which I attended as a delegate, marked my first session of the year. It was a fascinating experience to be able to attend a digital session for the first time from the perspective of a delegate before attending a session as an organiser.

After that, it became time for me to rally up delegations from my school for the next national selection conference. Whereas in the year prior only two delegates from my school attended the NSC, in 2022 we prepared two full delegations. Fast forward to the 26th NSC in Basel, in other words my first session without covid restrictions, and what a spectacular session it was. There were so many wonderful people there that I can now call my friends. I would like to thank the wonderful organising team for giving us delegates such a memorable session and inspiring so many to continue within EYP.

At the closing ceremony of Basel 2022, a very special session was announced: the In-School Session Locarno 2022. As soon as I heard about it, I knew that I had to apply. Being a chairperson was everything it was promised to be. We were a small, but very mighty officials team and I would again like to thank everyone involved. To the organising team, for putting a roof over our heads and feeding us, to the media team for capturing our memories, and to the rest of the academic team, for supporting me. Not forgetting, the delegates for being open and participating in our little event.

This year had an especially large members weekend, with many informative and entertaining modules on what it means to be an EYPer. Much of the “new generation” of EYP CH was in attendance, and it was my pleasure to find myself becoming a mentor to less experienced participants. And mentoring, I believe, is my future. I remember who I was before EYP, and I know how much I flourished once I joined. I know there are so many more people in need of the atmosphere that we have. My hope is to reach those people, the ones that need what I needed, a community.