Quentin Meux is a pioneer. Last summer he co-founded Contact Angers, half a year ago he was there when the Contact became a part of the network – and now, at Agora Bucharest, he might become the first member of AEGEE’s youngest antenna on European level. To be more concrete: Quentin Meux will run for the Juridical Commission. He has the shortest trip to the Agora of all candidates, since he currently is on Erasmus in Bucharest.
Golden Times: Where would you be now if you hadn’t joined AEGEE?
Quentin Meux: If I hadn’t join AEGEE, I would certainly be more involved in other association or in politics.
GT: How did you join AEGEE exactly? How did you find out about it?
Quentin: I co-founded an antenna in Angers. Initially I presented myself and friends to the university board elections, and some of them were back from Erasmus. They particularly noticed, and I agreed with them, that there was nothing really structured for students from abroad. Laura and Bastien had done the same observation and were thinking to create an AEGEE antennae, so we created it together.
GT: How long did it take you found AEGEE?
Quentin: We created the antennae in July I think, and integrated it into the network at the last Agora.
GT: What’s the typical drink and food you bring to European Nights?
Quentin: Menthe-Pastille, it’s a typical alcohol made in Angers, and that is very close to the Get 27.
GT: At an AEGEE party where will we find you? On the dancefloor? Talking at the bar?
Quentin: Talking at the bar I suppose, but it depends of my alcohol level.
GT: What was your position in the local board?
Quentin: I became secretary because I knew that I will come to Bucharest in Erasmus in February.
GT: What was your favourite event as organiser – and why is it your favourite?
Quentin: At local level, I would say a radio debate about Erasmus, and the changes that it involves. At European level, the first Network Meeting that AEGEE-Angers co-organised with AEGEE-Paris. It was called “Show us your Angers!” and it was really a good moment, a moment where we have met new people and see again others, and where as organizers we saw each of us in different circumstances that we uses to.
GT: How did you feel at your first Agora? Happy, excited, overwhelmed, lost?
Quentin: My first Agora was Agora Istanbul and I was excited because it was the Agora were our new antenna planned to integrate in AEGEE. Luckily, I had the chance to be there with Laura and Bastien, the President and Vice-President of AEGEE-Angers, and had previously been briefed about the functioning of the Agora. Otherwise I would certainly have been a bit lost.
GT: Have you ever hitch-hiked to an AEGEE event?
Quentin: Not for the moment, but I really would like.
GT: Do you like cooking and what’s your favourite dish you like to cook?
Quentin (laughing): I like to eat. Does it count?
GT: What’s never missing in your fridge?
Quentin: My fridge is always empty.
GT: What do your parents think about the idea that you are so active in AEGEE?
Quentin: They don’t really understand AEGEE, and they consider that I’m grown so they don’t even try to get interested in it.
GT: In a typology of members there are the three aspects fun member, career member and idealist – to which percentage are you which of these aspects?
Quentin: Hard question, I hope to be fun, some consider me an idealist, and others a career guy. I am certainly all three of it, but not at the same moment and the same place. If I had to choose one, I would most choose idealist.
GT: What other hobbies do you have aside from AEGEE?
Quentin: I have also Twitter and politics. More seriously, I read a lot, and when I am motivated, I play basketball.
GT: Did you consider joining a political party or maybe want to do it later?
Quentin: My favourite, and hardest question. It’s always hard to consider if I should answer this question or no, because the political concepts are totally different in each country, and one ideology can have the same name and be totally different in another country. I am already in the French Socialist party. I am in the national network of trainers of the party, and locally I am part of the decisional instances of my federation.
GT: What do you study – and why?
Quentin: I study International and European Law because I have done other studies before – Midwifery – and I couldn’t go to Sciences Po. So, considering that I chose to study law to understand the actual structure of the society due to the law, and be able to change it.
GT: What’s your dream job?
Quentin: Medical Doctor, it explains why I did midwifery before. French medical studies are a bit complicated, we have a common year for some medical studies, and depending on the final rank at the end of the year, you are able to go medical, or midwifery… I had only midwifery, so I did that a while.
GT: What’s the favourite city or place on this planet you ever visited?
Quentin: I would say Madrid, but it was during summer and with my girlfriend from Madrid so that’s distorted.
GT: And where would you really like to go?
Quentin (laughing): The Moon! If AEGEE is going to America, so why not the Moon?
GT: What’s your biggest frustration in AEGEE?
Quentin: Having not enough time and money to do everything.
GT: Please complete the sentence: “AEGEE is for me…”
Quentin: AEGEE is for me the multiplication of personal spirits and cultures by the European soul.
GT: How would you describe yourself in a few keywords?
Quentin: Passionate, involved, dynamic, open-minded, curious.
