And Now, Stand up For…

Hello, my name is Ioana, and I'm from Galati, Romania. I finished a mathematics informatics profile in high school, and now I'm in Warsaw, Poland, studying at the University of Warsaw. I applied to multiple places, like France, the Netherlands, and the UK, and I got accepted into a lot of them, but the reason why I ended up here is because I wanted to balance my work and studies.

What is Erasmus Plus?

How I Discovered It

Erasmus Plus is actually a short-term exchange. It's not just about one person going somewhere; multiple people from many countries gather in one country for about one or two weeks. They have sessions and workshops every single day about a specific topic, which can range from anything you want—AI, ecology, politics, and many more.

I started attending these projects because I was a delegate for some diplomats in Galati, and a girl asked us if we wanted to go to an Erasmus exchange. I got accepted and I went to Germany, ending up for the first time in a project like this. I liked it so much that I got along with the organiser, and I got accepted into another project in Lithuania, five days after.

Luckily, I met some founders of NGOs in Romania that were doing Erasmus projects. I guess it was pure luck, honestly, because there was a project in Bulgaria that I also applied to. In our team, there were five girls and one boy. The only boy was actually the founder of a pretty well-known NGO in Romania for youth exchanges. So he got me into the business, let’s say. We’re still very good friends.

My Experience Debating

I think the most important project I did was in Italy. We had to redesign a city by creating a business plan to grow tourism in the area. We were divided into teams, with the mentors guiding us through every single step of this project—how to create a business model canvas, what factors to consider when doing so. In the end, we voted on the best plan, which was actually presented to the town hall and was implemented in the city.

Besides discussing the presented issue, we had a lot of time to explore the city. A typical day would contain two debate session, about three hours each, and we could sight see the city in the remaining time.

However, I was near my 12th grade's final exam, and my parents were exasperated: "You already went to four projects this summer. You just turned 18 and you have your final exam. Why are you still going to these projects?".

I replied: "This is a new opportunity for me. Let me do it. I know how to handle my time. I know what I have to learn, but let me do it again." And despite everything, my parents trusted me. That was the most important thing. Therefore, I managed to complete 11 projects in one year, with everything being very spontaneous.

Actually, in the final exam I got 96 points, a very good grade.

How It Evolved

Now, I’ve started writing Erasmus Plus projects for the European Commission and I love doing that!

The website where we write projects is pretty straightforward. You have about 20–30 questions to answer, but each project ends up being around 40 pages of documentation. However, you can’t write one if you haven’t participated in multiple projects yourself; it’s impossible. You need to understand the structure and how these programs work, but since I’ve participated to do many at this point, I now know exactly what to write.

Each project is evaluated based on your answers to the application questions. You receive a score, and the European Commission has a budget for how many projects they can approve. When writing the project, you also have to prepare a budget plan, including: accommodation, partner countries, location, participants, facilitators, meals, workshops.

In Erasmus Plus projects, transportation, meals, and accommodations are fully covered by European funding. So, in short, when you write a project, you’re organising everything from start to finish.

And I Fell in Love!

I have travelled to many countries. My desire to study abroad goes back to when I was much younger, because I also lived a few years in Saudi Arabia. My dad was also travelling a lot, and I would visit him on and off, so I saw many parts of the world.

I knew for sure that I didn’t want to stay in Romania. I wanted to see all of Europe, the whole world if possible, so I was very happy with my decision to study abroad.

How I decided to study at University of Warsaw is a very interesting story. I have a friend who is also an organiser and the founder of an NGO in Poland that deals with Erasmus projects.

I was attending a project in Georgia, and I had two options for getting there, both by plane, and I chose the flight that ended with a 18-hour layover in Poland. Since I had friends in Poland, I decided to stay for a day and visit Warsaw to see how I liked it.

The moment I arrived there, I fell in love with the city. At that time, I had already chosen my university—I was planning to go to the Netherlands. But after visiting Warsaw, I changed my mind. I started researching universities there, asking students about their experiences. They told me it was a good university—not extremely demanding but still a place where you learn valuable things. Nonetheless, I applied immediately and got accepted.

12th Grade Evolution

The admission process to Poland was quite easy. They have multiple rounds, and you can apply from February until July. It’s a long application window.

The final exam matters a lot. One problem, though, is how they calculate your admission grade. I had a 9.6 in my final exam, but in Poland, they converted it to a 70-something out of 100 because also considered APs (Advanced Placement) courses, which don’t exist in Romania.

So, a good final exam score is crucial because not even extracurriculars carry much weight. They make up maybe 10-15% of the evaluation. So whatever extracurriculars you’re doing, you’re mostly doing them for yourself, not for admissions.

During my projects, I missed a lot of classes, around 300, but it wasn't difficult to catch up because I have a photographic memory. I used study portfolios that contained only the material most commonly tested. That was one of the most helpful things. I started studying two weeks before the exam.

I would stare at the pages blankly for five minutes, and somehow, the information would remain in my head. I also structure my notes in a way that makes sense to me. I don’t use academic terms or complex words—I write in a way that I can remember. Writing helps me to memorise better instead of just printing the materials. Later, when needed, I can rephrase the information in a more formal way.

Studying in Warsaw

One interesting thing about this university is the balance between classes. I have demanding courses like international relations, history, and law, but I also have a creative thinking workshop, which shaped me the most. Many of the exercises in that class were things I had already done in Erasmus projects, so I felt completely at home.

At the same time, it’s a good university, and I wanted that as well. Since I was a child, my parents pushed me toward academic validation, so that was important to me. I needed to find a middle ground between my projects and my studies, and this university was the best option I could have chosen.

Of course, I enjoy the courses a lot. They fit me perfectly. I can speak freely, express my opinion, and be heard. The international environment is also a great aspect. The students and professors come from different backgrounds, which makes them more open-minded. They understand that not everyone will have the same perspective, and that’s okay.

For example, in history, they don’t just make us memorise dates and names of leaders. Instead, they focus on helping us understand the processes behind historical events. They evaluate us based on our comprehension rather than robotic memorisation. I love this approach. It's not mandatory to have a minor, as right now, I don't have one.

But, for example, I took a course called Studies of International Relations, which covers theories like realism and liberalism. Then, I had Law, specifically Polish law, since I’m in Poland. However, the professor made it more international by allowing us to present constitutional laws from other countries. It was very interesting to compare the differences between legal systems.

Life as an International Student

You can apply for scholarships. They have different types—some are based on income, some on good grades, and some on other achievements.

But I didn’t apply for one because I didn’t really need it. My tuition is around 3,600 euros per year, which is manageable. Warsaw’s cost of living is almost the same as Romania’s. Even the currency exchange rate is similar, so you don’t really feel much of a difference.

Personally, I like going out with my friends, so I spend money on entertainment. I also enjoy exploring new places, so I don’t mind spending money on experiences.

At the same time, I know when I need to be serious. Right now, I’m in the middle of exam season, and in three weeks, I also have to submit my project. This month and a half is a more demanding period for me. But aside from that, I usually have a lot of free time.

This Was My Journey…

Too Late? Too much?

I never think it’s too late to start something—I started almost at 18 doing the projects that completely changed me. It’s never too late to accomplish something. If you want something, just go for it.

Don’t be afraid that you’ve missed your chance. If one train leaves, another will come. And if there isn’t another train, you’ll find another way to get where you need to go-a bus or even by foot.

Yes, the process of constantly searching and finding something new can be exhausting.

But at some point, someone will show up and give you an opportunity that changes everything. That’s exactly what happened when I met the founder of the NGO in Romania. He introduced me to a project full of other organizers, and that completely shifted the trajectory of my life.

You never know when these moments will happen. I thought I was just going to apply to a project, do a few, and then stop. But I didn’t stop. I kept going, and now I’m doing even more.

It’s good to have the drive to search for opportunities. But at some point, trust me, something unexpected will come your way, and it will just work out.

The Impact of Sports

I’ve done sports since I was four—maybe even younger. I tried everything: basketball, handball, swimming.

The one sport I stuck with for 12 years was karate.

Even in the academic world, sports matter. There are scholarships for athletes—so many of them. Even at my university, I could have applied for a sports scholarship, but I didn’t.

Sports also introduce you to different kinds of people. Coaches, trainers, and teammates all shape you in ways that academics alone never could. They teach you discipline, resilience, and how to push through challenges.

And it’s not just about traditional sports like basketball or football. Even going to the gym regularly can help. What matters is consistency—sticking to something outside of academics.

It’s about time management and mental endurance.

I remember training for my black belt in karate while also attending projects, going to high school, and keeping up with everything else. I was mentally and physically exhausted, but somehow, I pushed through everything. That experience taught me that even when I feel like I have nothing left, I can still do more. I can still push a little further. Because once it’s over, it’s over.