As a child, I was… loud, spontaneous, impatient, always trying new things. And I was a very picky eater – I refused to eat most vegetables. Was I a difficult child? Maybe a little, but I had, and still have, a good relationship with my parents. The same goes for my little sister, who’s three years younger than me and also wants to study in the Netherlands. I recently went on an exchange to Hong Kong, followed by travelling around Southeast Asia. I was away for almost six months – the longest I’ve ever been away from home. Normally, I go back to Warsaw quite often, but this time, I couldn’t be there for Christmas Eve dinner with my whole family. I joined online, but it wasn’t the same.
"The best advice I ever received was to study abroad"
Do you have any regrets? Not studying harder during the first Covid lockdown, when I was still in secondary school. There were so many distractions… My friends and I would play chess during online classes, or chat about video games on [social platform] Discord. I was a bit of a nerd back then, and I love games that require a lot of thinking. If I’d paid more attention in maths class, I’d have chosen a more mathematical degree. I went for economics because of its versatility. Luckily, I’m finding it more interesting now that I’ve started specialising in Finance.
What do your friends find annoying about you? I can be indecisive about small things, like where to go for dinner – I keep changing my mind. It annoys me, too; I find it immature. What else annoys me? People who talk in the library. And I don’t feel comfortable in crowds – they slow me down, and I get impatient. The same goes for group work. It bothers me when others hold up progress. I usually bring it up with them and offer to help.
"What I look for in my future wife? A best friend"
The best advice I ever received… was to study abroad. My parents encouraged me, even though it was hard for them to see me leave home. At the time, I wasn’t sure if it was the right move and struggled with the decision – I could’ve gone to university in Warsaw, where I was born and raised – but my parents taught me not to be afraid of leaving everything behind. They never had the chance to study abroad themselves, having grown up in communist Poland. I’m glad I took the leap. It’s nice to be part of an international community here in Maastricht, and the city is small enough that you’ll always bump into someone you know.
When was the last time you cried? I, uh… [Pauses] Two years ago, a friend’s sister took her own life. It was completely unexpected. I knew her quite well, and it was really difficult. Can we talk about something else? I still struggle with it – it’s hard to understand why someone would do that.
"I need to figure out what to do after my bachelor's. A master's, or work for a year first... It's not an easy decision"
In ten years… I hope to be married and raising a family. I plan to move back to Poland when I’m around 30 to be close to my family. Until then, I’d like to travel, see the world and live in different places. What do I look for in a future wife? A best friend. I prefer relationships that grow from friendships. But for that to happen, I first need to be more settled and live a less hectic life. That’s difficult here in Maastricht. Sure, I meet nice women, but I don’t know where I’ll end up after my bachelor’s, and often neither do they. The chances of our paths aligning tend to be pretty slim. That’s why I haven’t been in a relationship for a while.
I have fond memories of… my childhood. The freedom and carefreeness of spending whole afternoons playing football with friends after school. Do I have worries now? Definitely more than I did back then. I need to figure out what to do after my bachelor’s. A master’s in Finance, or work for a year first… It’s not an easy decision.
I feel Polish when… I see a Polish shop! A new one just opened near the station – I was surprised at how big it is. I didn’t realise so many Polish people lived in Maastricht. I’ve also been hearing Polish more often on the streets. What does it mean to feel Polish? We’re… I wouldn’t say “nationalistic” – that’s a strong word with extreme connotations in Poland. But we are proud of our flag and our country.