Finding purpose abroad

During my first year at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), I found myself facing a challenge that I didn’t predict, however obvious it may seem: adapting to the routine of studying abroad. When planning my second year, I decided to slow down a little, decrease my workload for the following semesters and engage in extracurricular activities to have a more meaningful experience at university.

Among the incredible hundreds of student clubs at TUM, I found the Environmental Department of the Student Council (URef - Referat für Umwelt)1 to be an inspiring way to make a difference. Since day one I was warmly welcomed and immediately felt excited to be part of a community of students dedicated to improve sustainability in the university. I began supporting the department wherever needed, particularly assisting the HR team with internal events and recruiting new members.

Environmental Lecture Series

Surprisingly, I discovered that an initiative that I was eager to find out more about was also part of URef. Just a few weeks before joining the team, I had registered to for the course “The Climate Drama” as part of an interdisciplinary lecture series on current environmental topics organized by students for over 40 years.

Naturally, my involvement quickly extended to the Environmental Lecture Series (RiVo)2. I volunteered proactively to support RiVo, working behind the scenes with a wonderful team and becoming familiar with the lecture series both as a student attending the course and as a volunteer.

I strongly believe in interdisciplinary activities and how they can enhance the learning curve, a conviction strengthened during my first undergraduate degree in Brazil, where I advocated for causes like civil rights, education, and solidarity economy. RiVo perfectly combines my core motivations: education and sustainability.



1 The Environmental Department of the Student Representation of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is the contact point for environmental and sustainability issues, promoting sustainable development on campus and influencing strategic decisions.
2 The Environmental Lecture Series is a student-led public lecture series that has been running since 1985 at TUM. Every semester, a dedicated team plans and designs a new and inspiring program on current environmental topics, which is translated into a course where students can earn 1 or 3 ECTS.