Student story Anna

“My interest in the environment started long before I arrived in Wageningen,” I often say when people ask why I chose the Bachelor of Environmental Sciences. My name is Anna Skierska, I’m 24 years old, originally from Szczecin, Poland, and environmental topics have always been part of my life. In high school, I became fascinated by renewable energy and future-oriented solutions. “I even built my own solar panels as part of a long-term project for a national scientific competition,” something that, looking back, already reflected my wish to create solutions that are simple, cheap and environmentally friendly.

Interestingly, this programme wasn’t my first choice. “I started studying Chemical Engineering in Groningen, but after a year I realised it wasn’t the right fit.” Switching to Wageningen and to Environmental Sciences turned out to be exactly what I needed.

What I enjoy most about this programme is its combination of theory and real-world application. “We don’t just study from books—we actually go out and see things in practice.” In my first year, for example, we visited farmers and explored the Rhine floodplains several times. Later, during an international case study visit to France, I got to work with students from other countries, which made the programme even more exciting.

There isn't much I dislike. “If I had to name something, I would have loved to take more courses from my specialisation earlier on,” but I know that’s mainly because I am very passionate about my track. What truly excites me is the interdisciplinary nature of the programme. “Even though my main interests lie in policy, governance and economics, I still learned the science behind environmental issues—the mechanisms, processes and technologies.” The programme gives you the freedom to move in the direction you want, without losing the broad overview.

I chose Wageningen because of its strong focus on climate, sustainability and the environment. Starting here was surprisingly smooth. “Moving to another country felt big, but the first two to three months were mostly about learning how to study and what was expected of me.” There was a lot of support, which made the transition easy.

Outside of studying, my life in Wageningen is peaceful and social. I enjoy having dinner with friends, doing some sports, walking, and spending time outdoors. “Every Saturday I go to the market in the city centre—it has become my little tradition.” I’m not part of a student association, but I volunteered as a Communication Assistant at Green Office Wageningen, which allowed me to meet people from different programmes and countries and to apply my knowledge in practice.

Sometimes I miss my family and my culture, but “meeting friends and staying in touch with people back home helps me feel at home here.”

For the future, I plan to continue with the Master's Governance of Sustainability Transformations in Wageningen. After that, I’m open to staying in the Netherlands or exploring new countries: “I want to gain experience before eventually returning to Poland.” I hope to contribute to environmental policy, law or economics, especially in making regulations more effective and steering governance towards protecting the environment. My bachelor's thesis on marine plastic pollution deepened this passion, and I’m also fascinated by the growing connection between human rights and the environment.

My advice to future students? “You might doubt a lot, but ask yourself where you see yourself in a few years. If a programme aligns with the future you want, let that guide your choice.” That mindset helped me make mine.