Name: Andrei Mara
Age: 24
DHS cohort: 2022-2023
Bachelor’s programme: Communication and Public Relations
Current Job: Sales Representative & Copywriter at WoFun Games

Why did you choose Dialogue, Health and Society at VU Amsterdam?

I think compassionate communication is essential for a healthy society. After reading the DHS curriculum, I was absorbed to learn more about the details of interaction, and how they can be applied to move towards shared goals for our well-being.

How do you look back on your study time there?

It was the best studying experience of my life! Supportive teachers, lots of collaboration with my colleagues, and everyone had a positive attitude. An awesome time!

What did you like best about Dialogue, Health and Society? And did you encounter any difficulties?

The teachers’ support was the best part, that’s for sure! I am interested in sustainability, and I wanted to contribute towards it while taking the track. My thesis coordinator was extremely supportive in helping me find an internship that allowed me to conduct my thesis on sustainability. As for difficulties, there were definitely some challenges in finding participants for my sample, but with the help of the team, I overcame them. The teachers did a great job at making me feel empowered.

What was your favourite course, period or groundbreaking insight while studying Dialogue, Health and Society?

Certainly my master’s thesis! For me, the most fascinating aspect was how we turned an obstacle into an opportunity. Not knowing Dutch, I needed to find English conversations for my thesis analysis. The obstacle was that initially, the NGOs I collaborated with were mainly engaging with a Dutch population, in the Dutch language. But after some brainstorming, we decided that my need for English conversations could actually be leveraged to also engage with the international neighbors towards sustainability.

When I open WhatsApp and see the community is still active, it makes me feel happy and empowered. The international neighbors visited the recycling facility in Amsterdam, installed more worm hostels for compost, and are sharing bacteria colonizers for Kombucha. I think it’s safe to say the study was amongst the few using Conversation Analysis for sustainability (in both the Netherlands and beyond). I’m full of gratitude for having been part of an awesome team for a pioneering project. What I learned from the track continues to impact my life, having helped me with the job interviewing process, skill development, and even friendships!