A few days ago, I had the privilege of taking part in the 9th DEN International Student Conference, and the impact and memories it left on me are something I would have never thought about before visiting London. While preparing to present my research and ideas at the Conference, I was very excited about the opportunity to share my work with a wider international community, which, by coming from different backgrounds, naturally views certain phenomena from various perspectives. Those different views, provided by the diversity of students, are truly amazing, helping one understand other students’ points of view and, by doing so, learn and broaden one’s knowledge. I myself experienced this firsthand, and looking back, I learned a lot from those conversations. Exchanging opinions and even brief conversations with students from different backgrounds made me reflect on the world around us.
At first, I was slightly hesitant to engage in conversations, but to my surprise, the other students came to talk to me, and through that we started to get to know each other better. That openness towards other students was something I truly appreciated, and later on, on the day of the conference it was me who started talks with other participants.
During my presentation, I highlighted the often overlooked side of education, emphasising the impact of education on the process of integrating Ukrainian migrants in my home country, Poland. By conducting my research and analysing that phenomenon, I learned that the inclusion of Ukrainian students into the Polish educational system facilitated the integration processes and provided them support and made them adapt to their new environment more effectively. By doing so, I wanted to share with other students that I sincerely believe that education can do much more than just teaching, it can be a significant force in uniting people and making the world a better place. After my presentation, I was asked interesting questions both on the panel as well as off the stage, and I was pleased to answer them all and share the details of the process and my research. But what makes me extremely happy is that I believe that by presenting my work and engaging in conversations, I sparked curiosity and made some students look at education and its possibilities from a new perspective. It is particularly important to me to listen to one another’s voices and learn from each other. Indeed, that was something that impressed me significantly. During the conference, I had the opportunity to hear many interesting things covering such a wide variety of topics, which later made me reflect and learn, and that was truly remarkable.
Lastly, I had a chance to explore London, a city that brings together many people from different cultures. I really enjoyed exploring the city. The DEN and people I met were a truly memorable and enriching experience. It made me learn a lot and I hope I have also contributed something meaningful in return.
Oskar Wiśniewski