It all started quite suddenly. I was chatting with a friend of mine who was already a volunteer at the National Youth Foundation. He was telling me so enthusiastically about his activities and all the opportunities he had access to, that I was truly impressed. That’s when I decided: I have to try this too.
First Contact: The Interviews and the "Ecosystem"
I’ll admit, when I went in for the interview, I was pretty confused about how the program worked. Luckily, I met Bianca. Before the official interview began, she gave me a much clearer picture of this "youth world."
Then came the discussion with my future coordinator, Rebecca. It was a surprisingly relaxed experience—more of an introduction to what I was going to do and a presentation of the entire youth "ecosystem." Although I tried my hardest to memorize every coordinator and every division that day, I quickly gave up, realizing later that I would be interacting with everyone at the center anyway.
The Policy Division: Between Laws and Spreadsheets
I began my journey in the Policy Division. The first week was a mix of logistics and intense learning. Yolanda, the head of the division, introduced me to the activity of the Economic and Social Council (ESC). In short, the ESC is a consultative body that analyzes all legislative proposals (Government Decisions, Ordinances, new laws) before they are published.
My role quickly became technical and high-responsibility. Working alongside Vlad Cherecheș, a representative in the plenary, I learned the meaning of rigor. I received legislative proposals for the plenary sessions and had to upload them to the site, creating clear summaries, I entered the opinions offered by specialized commissions into Excel (favorable, favorable with observations, or unfavorable).
"It took me about a week to get used to it, and although I made many mistakes at first, they were explained to me with patience, allowing me to grow."
A Lesson in limits and new beginnings
As time went on, I worked alongside Nadia, a friend of mine, who helped me with the visual side social media. While the collaboration was great and lightened my workload, I realized something important about myself: I’m not cut out for design at all—but at least now I know for sure!
After a while, I felt my enthusiasm waning. Due to the high volume of work and accumulated fatigue, mistakes started creeping back in. After an honest talk with my coordinator, we decided together that it was time for a change. That’s how I joined the Activities&Service Division, where I am now. This new start feels much more like "me."
What did I gain from this experience?
Even though I changed divisions, my time in "Policies" was an extraordinary school. I sharpened my:
Patience and Attention to Detail: I read legislative proposals ranging from 5 to 200 pages.
General Knowledge: I now understand the mechanisms of Parliament and Government much better.
Punctuality: Fixed deadlines left no room for procrastination.
Teamwork: My collaboration with Nadia was essential to getting the job done.
In the end, I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned and I’m looking forward to the new challenges in the Activities& Services Division. And the most important part? The bonds and friendships created in the Policy Division remain just as strong, regardless of which department we work in!
