With the above words, Ana Šubic, a third year student of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium and a national winner of the 2017-2018 translation contest Juvenes Translatores, concluded her speech delivered on 10th April 2018 in front of a vast audience of contestants, parents, teachers, translators and other EU officials on the occasion of the award ceremony in the Charlemegne building in Brussels. Among 28 winners from EU member states, only three were invited to give a speech, Ana among them. It was delivered partly in English, partly in Slovene and Ana enjoyed every minute of it, as she put it.

Her speech emphasised the exceptionally favourable living conditions that the young Europeans enjoy today. “Let’s consider numerous education possibilities and our skills. This is a winning combination that not every young person can achieve. We did not earn it, it was bestowed upon us and it is our duty to deal with it responsibly, thus showing the world the opportunities have not been in vain. We, the joung Europeans, shall make an all-out-effort, study well and work for the benefit of mankind. Maybe we will translate a wonderful novel, be the first to talk to a doubtful person, help people who are lost in every sense of the word, we may invent something new. We shall love and lead an active life with a sparkle in our eyes to make this world a better place. By doing so, we will try to justify the opportunities and skills bestowed upon us.” You can listen to the rest of her meaningful speech at 38th minute using the following link: https://business.facebook.com/translatores/?ref=py_c

Ana attended the award ceremony in Brussels with her mother and her mentor Irena Bolta, teacher of German at the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/