Post by Héctor Jiménez Valerio

2025 Summary (january, 2026) Non-conformity drives continuous growth, but a pause for reflection is necessary to assess our efforts. 🗣️At the beginning of the year, I had the opportunity to take part in organizing the first academic debate tournament in the province of Huelva, together with Equipo Europa. I would like to express my gratitud to my former teammates Lorenzo Giovanni Foti Gallego, Alejandra Sofía Carrera García, Alberto García Chaparro, Juan Jesús López Martínez, as well as students and teachers for bringing this idea to reality. 🇪🇺A month later, we held the European Union Olympics in Granada, where students from all over Andalusia gathered to write an essay on sustainable justice ♻️.Huge thanks to Valentina de los Ángeles Rojas Garrido, Maria Reche Lucas, rest of spokepersons, participants and educators for engaging in this project . 🇷🇴In April, I represented Equipo Europa alongside Elena Urbina Illana in the preparatory phase of the Europa-Forum Wachau, which took place in Brasov, Romania. There, I exchanged perspectives on some of the key challenges facing the EU and met young people from across Europe, among whom I would like to highlight my friend Mélanie Cluzel. 🇺🇳In addition, I participated in the SevIMUN - Seville International Model United Nations, organised in the Universidad Pablo de Olavide, de Sevilla, where I defended the interests of the Swedish delegation within the UEFA committee. Getting involved in this simulation boosted my confidence in public speaking and allowed me to build meaningful connections, such as with Manuel Polo Larios. 🇫🇷🇦🇹After the university exam period in May, I obtained the B2 French official certification and traveled to Krems, Austria, for the main phase of the Europa Forum Wachau. I must give thanks to Michael Linhart, Max Vincenz Filipsky, Benedikt Schmidinger, it was an immense pleasure and outstanding project! 🇫🇷In September, against all odds, I arrived in La Roche-sur-Yon, France, where I began my Erasmus stay at ICES - Institut catholique de Vendée. I am deeply thankful for the empathy of the members of the international relations office, especially to its director, Matthieu Brecville. Without them, I certainly would not be studying in France today. October, November, and December were months of full immersion in a new and demanding environment. Among the most notable milestones, I was elected Training delegate at 🇪🇺Equipo Europa International, delivered a 🎙️ lecture on personal Erasmus experience in front of more than 200 students, successfully passed the 🇫🇷C1 French exam and was awarded a scholarship for academic excellence by Santander Open Academy. Most importantly, I met extraordinary people, such as Jérémie GUERIN, Mateo Enriquez, and Álvaro Riaza Pérez, and strengthened friendships with many more, like Antonio Ostos Rodríguez. In summary, 2025 was a great year both personally and professionally. Thank you to everyone who made this year unforgettable.