I enjoyed participating in the preparatory meeting for the LLW 2019 at the SIAE. I was invited as the the SIAE Award Winner for the promotion of adult learning and knowledge 2017.

It was a great honour and pride to take part in preparations for the Slovenian LLW, along with the Directress of the Zasavje AEC, Polona Trebušak. I have immense respect for all learners and teachers. They made me feel welcome and very relaxed, and the atmosphere was charged with positive energy. That is why my initial stage fright quickly dissipated when I was given the opportunity to say a few words about myself and my lifelong learning path.

Since my birth, destiny has intended a different life path for me, a path that demands hard work, willpower, and constantly having to prove myself to those around me. Looking back, I can say that I am proud of myself and how far I have come. My path was often marked by less than perfect moments that life sometimes brings. However, they give me power and the faith to form myself into an independent and confident person with an empathetic heart that can reach out to others.

I am an honest, energy-filled person who likes to joke, even about myself. Humour helped me spice up my story, and while speaking I felt truly accepted by everyone present. The audience rewarded me with loud applause and a feeling of understanding and support.

I would like to thank everyone for a wonderful day, one of those that I love to remember, a new pebble in the mosaic of my life.

Darja Smrkolj (d.smrkolj1966@gmail.com)

© 2017-2024 Slovenian Institute for Adult Education

​The publication is co-financed by the Ministry of Education.

ISSN 2630-2926

Slovenian Institute for Adult Education
Ministry of Education

Published by Slovenian Institute for Adult Education (SIAE), Šmartinska 134a, SI-1000 Ljubljana | Editor-in-chief: Zvonka Pangerc Pahernik, MSc (E: zvonka.pangerc@acs.si) | Editor: Ana Peklenik (E: ana.peklenik@acs.si) | Other members of the editorial board: Zvonka Pangerc Pahernik, MSc, dr Nataša Potočnik, Directress of SIAE, dr Tanja Možina, Tanja Vilič Klenovšek, MSc and dr Tanja Rupnik Vec | Computer solution: Franci Lajovic (T: 01 5842 555, E: franci.lajovic@acs.si) | Translation/proofreading: Mesto znanja, izobraževanje in svetovanje za osebno rast, Petra Cvek, s. p.  | Design: Larisa Hercog | Corrective reading: Zvonka Pangerc Pahernik, MSc, and Mateja Pečar | W: https://enovicke.acs.si/en/home/