The student received the news by email from the organisation and describes the moment as particularly meaningful. “I was very happy to have been selected. It is a unique opportunity to go to the European Parliament and to have direct contact with change.”
A Psychology perspective in the panel on Democracy and Civic Participation
At ESA26, Ana Raquel will join the panel “Strengthening Democracy and Engaging Citizens”, which seeks to identify ways of enhancing democratic participation in the European Union. She chose this group because she believes that her academic background enables her to contribute meaningfully to the discussion.The panel aims to propose alternatives that promote citizens’ active participation and thus strengthen European democracy. Ana Raquel highlights that Psychology offers essential tools for understanding processes of interaction, education, empathy and civic engagement, which she considers central to the topic.
Taking part in ESA26 represents an opportunity for the student to engage with different cultures, perspectives and ways of thinking. She considers all these aspects fundamental to her academic and personal growth. The experience will also allow her to deepen her understanding of how the European Union works and of the role citizens play in decision making processes that affect them.
A challenging and enriching European experience
By travelling to Strasbourg, Ana Raquel hopes to meet new people, reflect on different realities and feel that she is contributing to a shared goal. She recognises that taking part in an international and formal context will be challenging. However, she believes that this will have a positive impact on her confidence, public speaking and relational skills.Working with students from other fields and nationalities is, for her, an opportunity for direct contact with the diversity of experiences and knowledge that exist across Europe.
Support from the Universidade Católica and the T4EU Alliance
The student highlights the role of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa and of the Transform4Europe (T4EU) Alliance, which introduced her to the initiative and supported her after her selection. She emphasises that this experience complements her training by challenging her to step outside her comfort zone and by enabling her to learn in contexts that go beyond Psychology.
In the end, she leaves a simple and direct piece of advice that reflects what this opportunity represents for her: “Take risks and step out of your comfort zone.”
