Dawid Cegla has many interests: he plays in a band, he likes martial arts, is a huge football fan – and one of the most active members of AEGEE-Katowice. Dawid is also the 550th fan of the Golden Times! Find out more about him in our interview.
Golden Times: Dawid, you are the 550th fan of the Golden Times! Congratulations! How did you hear about the Golden Times?
Dawid Cegła (smiles): At the beginning I want to say, that it’s a pleasure for me to be interviewed for the Golden Times. The way how I found out about the Golden Times is very simple – many of my AEGEE friends like the Golden Times on Facebook. I checked it, liked it… and now I’m interviewed by you!
Golden Times: Tell us about yourself: how old are you, what do you study?
Dawid: I’m 21 years old and study Computer Science at the University of Economics in Katowice. I know, it sounds quite strange, but nowadays it is a very important matter to use IT in business – and that’s the way how this studies looks. My specialisation is Integrated Management Information Systems. I’m at the end of my bachelor studies.
Golden Times: How and when did you join AEGEE-Katowice?
Dawid: It was a spontaneous decision. It was exactly the 25th of February 2011, when one of my study colleagues invited me to a party which was organised by AEGEE-Katowice. Without any unnecessary thoughts I said: “Why not?”. It was a great party and I decided to go to the next one. After that I came to our office… and that’s how it began.
Golden Times: You are known as very active member. What have you done so far in AEGEE-Katowice? I’ve read something about the Festiwal Kultury Absurdalnej Absurdalia 2011…
Dawid: Yes, Festiwal Kultury Absurdalnej Absurdalia it’s one of our most characteristic projects. It’s a festival of absurdity, which promotes uncommon and unique art. There are a few categories in which artists can show their talents: music, art, photography, film, comedy, dance, poetry, theatre – and in this year, we want to add a cooking contest. My first task in AEGEE was to design the T-shirts for our festival and help with creating promo videos. After some time, I decided to coordinate the comedy contest of our festival.
Golden Times: What else are you doing in your antenna?
Dawid: I try to be as active as possible. I’m involved in our Fund-raising, Human Resources and our IT Working Groups, and I coordinate our spring Local Training Course. Of course, I work on the next edition of Absurdalia too. In this year, I’m responsible for the Final Awards Ceremony including the 21st AEGEE-Katowice birthday party. I must take this opportunity to say something about our project which will take place at the end of September.
Golden Times: Go ahead.
Dawid: This project is called “Nocno Szychta”, which means night shift. Katowice is the capital city of Silesia – the most industrial region of Poland. We want to promote Silesia using coalmines, which are a characteristic element of our region. I will not tell any details yet, but I want to invite everyone – I’m sure it will be a great event!
Golden Times: Thanks! Will we also see you on European level of AEGEE, maybe in a project, CD or NetCom?
Dawid (smiles): I’ve never thought about it seriously, but… never say never!
Golden Times: What was the best event you’ve visited so far in AEGEE?
Dawid: It’s hard to say which one was the best, because all of them were an awesome experience, but I will say something about the last one. At the end of February I was at the Bison Hunting which was organised by AEGEE-Białystok. It was a very well-organised event with great people. We discovered the beautiful sceneries of Podlasie, a region in Eastern Poland. I have to admit that they inspired me to do “Nocno Szychta” in Katowice.
Golden Times: And where would you like to go with AEGEE this year?
Dawid: I’m going to Toruń for the “Let’s do it!” Network Meeting and then to Enschede for the Agora of course! I’m planning to participate in our SU “Go East! Break the Borders!” which we organise with our TwinAntenna AEGEE-Dnipropetrovsk. I hope I will go to Budapest for the autumn Agora too.
Golden Times: Please complete the sentence: “AEGEE is for me…”
Dawid: AEGEE is for me a great opportunity to improve myself in many ways. In AEGEE I met many great people and I got a chance to discover European culture. Now, I can’t imagine studying without AEGEE.
Golden Times: What other hobbies do you have aside from AEGEE? I read on Facebook that you do martial arts?
Dawid: Yes, I’m interested in martial arts. I’ve been training Mixed Martial Arts for one year. I generally like many kinds of sports: football, handball, volleyball, sailing and many others. One the most important thing in my life is music – I play guitar in a band and I try to go to the rock concerts as often as possible.
Golden Times: Tell us more about the band.
Dawid: My band is called “Rotten Apple”. We don’t put our music to any categories, but it’s rock with elements of metal music. Because of our studying and many other responsibilities we have some break for playing, but I hope we will resume our activity soon. For now, we played one gig, but we want concentrate on making material for our first EP.
Golden Times: What will you work one day?
Dawid: I woud like to work in a company which provides Enterprise Resource Planning systems. Last year, I was at an internship at one company, in the implementation department. I was responsible for configuring and testing software. Now I want to try myself as programmer. Before I decide what I will do permanently, I want to check what will be the best for me.
Golden Times: As a child, what did you dream to be your future job after growing up?
Dawid: I had many dreams and plans for my life, but I really wanted to become footballer. I’ve been training football as a goalkeeper in little local club, but my coach wasn’t the best person for that place. I had problems with my motivation because of his stupid decisions. I wanted to change the club, but it was too far for me to go to somewhere else. Since I didn’t have enough time to commute to the club, I had to give up.
Golden Times: Where do you live now? What do you like and dislike about your city?
Dawid: The answer is not as simple as you might think. I live in Zabrze, but most of my time I spend in Katowice where I study and work for AEGEE of course. The distance between Zabrze and Katowice is about 25 kilometres, so it’s not a big problem to commute. Zabrze is a typical industrial city, but it’s best known for Górnik Zabrze – the football club, which won more titles in Poland than any other. I’m a big fan of Górnik Zabrze. Katowice is a city of students from whole Silesia. AEGEE-Katowice – that’s what I love in Katowice! There is no thing that I really don’t like in Zabrze or Katowice.
Golden Times: What are your best and least liked cities?
Dawid: I don’t have a favourite one, but I was very impressed after visiting Budapest and Visby. Polish cities like Wrocław or Kraków are among my favourites too. I’m going to visit Amsterdam before the Agora in Enschede, I hope I will have a great time. I don’t like Sosnowiec which is next to Katowice, but it’s not serious and it’s very long story… (smiles)
Golden Times: What’s never missing in your fridge?
Dawid: Meat – I love meat in many forms. I can’t imagine myself as a vegetarian.
Golden Times: How would you describe yourself in a few keywords?
Dawid: Optimistic, talkative, social with a great sense of humor.
YOU might be the next who will get an interview! Just press a “Like” for the Golden Times Facebook page! Every 50th new fan will be presented here – and will receive a small gift at the next Agora!
