To many it was a huge surprise, when Gergő Szigeti candidated for the position of Secretary General of AEGEE-Europe at Agora Napoli in 2006. After all, Gergő previously had just been active in his home antenna, AEGEE-Pécs. However, he surprised all in a positive way. Gergő, who is currently living in Budapest and joined Les Anciens d’AEGEE a few months ago, is working as financial resources manager, but still hopes to become screenwriter one day.
Golden Oldie: Where were you born?
Gergő Szigeti: In Pécs, Hungary
Golden Oldie: What did you study?
Gergő: I made a Master in Law and one in Economics in Pécs.
Golden Oldie: When did you join AEGEE and how?
Gergő: I joined AEGEE-Pécs in 2002, when I applied for a Summer University. Our board member Enid Györke, who is also in Les Anciens, advised me to join the organisation.
Golden Oldie: You were in the board of AEGEE-Pécs. How do you remember that time?
Gergő: It was a very exciting time of my life, I really enjoyed all moments. Ok, the ones when I had to get money for events were the most exciting ones.
Golden Oldie: Then you moved on to the CD. What where the biggest challenges and rewards of this job?
Gergő: Well, I really screwed up my candidature at the Agora Napoli in 2006. I was not that experienced on the European level, and let’s say I had problems to define general you-know-what and the first couple of months were about proving that I was good enough for the Secretary General position.
Golden Oldie: Yes, the general mailing discussion. What was your favourite AEGEE event?
Gergő: Summer University Malta in 2003. Those were the most amazing three weeks of my life… I still have friends from that SU! Malta rocks…
Golden Oldie: What were your best and worst moments in AEGEE?
Gergő: Hard to tell… my best were maybe the SU Valletta, EBM Gliwice and I also loved the Agora Napoli – and Agora Eskisehir together with all difficulties.
Golden Oldie: Which AEGEE member impressed you a lot?
Gergő: No doubt, Alexianne Galea. She is the most amazing person in AEGEE, and she is a very good friend of mine.
Golden Oldie: Any things you regret that you haven’t done them in AEGEE?
Gergő: I regret that I did not start to become more active on European level earlier, and I regret that during my time in the Juridical Commission I could not do my work well because I got sick.
Golden Oldie: Did AEGEE influence your career decision?
Gergő: Not exactly, I did not know what I want to do – but it gave me a lot of new visions.
Golden Oldie: As a child, what did you dream to be your future job after growing up?
Gergő: Actor or screenwriter – I still hope to become the second one.
Golden Oldie: What are you doing now as main occupation?
Gergő: Financial resources manager.
Golden Oldie: Are you single/married/married with 5 children?
Gergő: I am in a relationship.
Golden Oldie: Which languages do you speak?
Gergő: English, Norwegian, German and Hungarian.
Golden Oldie: Where do you live now? What do you like/dislike about your city?
Gergő: In this very moment I am in Budapest, but this might change in a few months. I don’t like the pollution and the enormous size of this city, but I like its social and gastronomy life.
Golden Oldie: What are your best and least liked cities?
Gergő: Oslo, Heidelberg, Berlin, New York, Sydney and Rome are my favourites. Least likes? Hmmm, I don’t think I have any.
Golden Oldie: What is the furthest place you ever went to?
Gergő: Penguine Island in Australia.
Golden Oldie: Which country would you like to visit in the near future?
Gergő: Iceland, Tanzania and Argentina.
Golden Oldie: What are your hobbies?
Gergő: I hang out with friends, play squash, cook, read and write, go to cinema or watch TV series.
Golden Oldie: What are you most afraid of?
Gergő: Clowns.
Golden Oldie: What’s never missing in your fridge?
Gergő: Yoghurt, milk, wine.
Golden Oldie: How would you describe yourself in five keywords?
Gergő: Honest, open-minded, creative, friendly, optimistic.
