From uni.lu to Luxembourg's youngest parliamentarian

What happens when life derails your perfect plans? For Djuna Bernard, Luxembourg's youngest parliamentarian elected at age 26, the answer lies in embracing the unexpected.

Djuna's political journey began with a teenage crush at an election party, where she met a boy in the Young Greens. While the relationship lasted only months, her political engagement endured, though she never imagined it would become her career. Growing up with a politically active single mother, social engagement was woven into her childhood, yet her dream was clear: become a history teacher.

Throughout university, Djuna balanced intensive community involvement with her studies, often leaving social gatherings early to attend meetings. Despite her busy schedule, she remained determined to follow her teaching path—until a transformative solo backpacking trip across four continents after completing her bachelor's degree. On Bali's beaches, with a beer in hand, she confronted a difficult truth: her carefully constructed plan no longer fit who she'd become.

This revelation led her to pursue nonprofit management instead of history education, and when the Syrian refugee crisis erupted in 2015, she founded "Refugees Welcome to Luxembourg." Her growing profile in youth advocacy culminated in an unexpected lunch with a Green Party minister who asked her to run for Parliament—giving her mere hours to decide. With little to lose, she took the plunge.

Entering Parliament as its youngest member brought challenges. Colleagues initially treated her as "the cute little young girl" rather than an equal, but she gradually earned respect through substantive work, including reforming school canteen systems to prioritize local, organic food options.

For students feeling uncertain about their futures, Djuna offers refreshingly practical advice: create space for honest self-reflection, be courageous in following your instincts rather than others' expectations, and remain open to new possibilities. As she puts it, "I want to be the one telling my grandchildren that I at least tried to change something."

Ready to find your own unexpected path? Listen now to discover how stepping out of your comfort zone might lead to extraordinary possibilities.

Interested in signing up for the Bachelor en Cultures Européennes?

Visit the website : bce.uni.lu
Applications are open from February until the 25 of June 2025.

If you have any specific questions regarding this Bachelor, please contact: bce.office@uni.lu

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