One woman against the rest: Elena Sofia Silva won a faculty council seat

One woman against the rest: Elena Sofia Silva won a faculty council seat

Italian psychology student Elena Sofia Silva (20) ran in the faculty council elections. One woman competing against established party Fractie Stimulus. Mission impossible it seemed, but against all the odds she won her seat. “Within weeks I received invitations for meetings for the entire year. That was a really big shock. Wow, my life is already planned for the coming year.”

Elena Sofia Silva at a TSB faculty council meeting. Photo: Dolph Cantrijn

Elena Sofia at a TSB faculty council meeting. Fotography: Dolph Cantrijn

“I wanted to be involved. So when I saw a notice that you could register for the faculty elections, I went to the registration office. They told me that the only way for me to run was as my own candidate. That is what I did. After that I felt the pressure. I didn’t really expect to win, but, I had taken the risk, I had given my word to my friends and kept going. When the results were announced, and I had won, I was really surprised. How was that possible? I think it was because people know me and trust me.”

‘The amount of information you get was a surprise to me, it feels like getting free ice cream’

“There was a lot to discover, so much I didn’t know. Immediately after the elections, Stimulus, the other party, contacted me. What are your ideas, what would you like to do? I met with them, first the chair, later all the new council members. They already have a lot of knowledge. Now, before each council meeting, we share information and help each other. We all know different things. For example, I know Latin, so I can help with Latin terms.”

The biggest weapon

“After the elections it seemed like everybody suddenly knew me. ‘You are the student who is elected’. University council parties SAM en Front wanted to meet me. Before that, I didn’t know the difference between the two. Now I know which of them I need to talk to about different subjects. I have learned so much the past year. The amount of information you get was a surprise to me. Super nice, you get all the instruments you need. Where the money comes from, how it is spent. Knowledge is the biggest weapon you can have. And that is what the university gives me. It feels like getting free ice cream. I tell my friends about the things I learn. ‘Did you know this, or this, and do you know that?’ No, they did not know.”

Virtue in the middle

“What really surprised me about university politics is how open and cooperative everybody is. In Italy students have only students in mind, teachers think only about teachers and management speaks only about management. Here people also pay attention to the interest of others. There is a culture of collaboration and exchange of ideas. In Italy that is not very common. They say this, you say that. Here we try to come together, find a balance. Like the old Latin expression: in medio stat virtus, the virtue stands in the middle.” 

Risk taker

“Two years ago, I had stem cell surgery for my ankle. It was a risk, but otherwise I wouldn’t be able to walk by the time I was 30. So, for me, taking risks is normal. I have a lot of energy and I want to use it all. The busier I am, the more satisfied I am. Apart from the work for the faculty, I am studying for my exams and I have entered a drama course. I also like to go to the Sport Center for boxing and fitness and sometimes I go to the sauna. Because it is nice to have some money I work as a research assistant and in the weekends I work at a restaurant. And I have started meditating. Doing so many things is good, but you also need to do nothing sometimes. Otherwise you would go crazy, and that’s not what I want.”

The whole package

“In my first year I had to learn how to live here. You need to get a bank account, register at the municipality, get insurance. But now it is about living here. Discovering the Netherlands, learning what the country is about. I went to the arrival of Sinterklaas in Amsterdam. I want to know who he is, where he is from. I have been to Tulip day in Amsterdam. I want to visit other cities and discover more of what the country has to offer. Dutch people are nice. Because I am not the tallest person I can’t reach the highest shelves in shops, but people are always ready to help me. The only thing I like a bit less is the weather. But, I am learning to live with rain. If you want to be somewhere you have to take the whole package.”

Next year

“I am not sure if I am going to take part in the election again. I may not have time, I am thinking about doing a semester abroad. Another abroad. Maybe Iceland or Finland, I like cold countries. I have already been to Finland and met people there. But even when I am not here, that doesn’t mean my party has to stop. Maybe someone else will want to run for a seat in the faculty council of TSB for my party Dynamic Minds. I would support that.”

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