Students from 15 faculties of the University of Gdańsk, as part of the integrative project 'Sztuka mówienia' (TN: The Art of Speaking), recorded an uplifting and socially important spot under the supervision of dr. Miłosz Wojtyna from the Philology Department of the University of Gdańsk. In their message, they convince that life satisfaction and self-acceptance have a huge impact on fulfilling one's potential and on interpersonal and social relations.

'2020 was not your year, you are not thinking optimistically about 2021, you have fears, you are afraid of vaccinations and coronavirus, you feel that during the quarantine you did not do anything worthwhile, you want to drop everything and go to the Bieszczady Mountains... Each of us has better and worse days, you are not alone,' - These are the words resounding from a three-minute film by students of the University of Gdańsk, who call for taking care of your well-being and joy of life.

UG students' recording entitled 'It's ok'

How to take control of the world with words

The spot was created as part of the university-wide lecture 'The art of speaking, or how to take control of the world with words'. It is a course in rhetoric and sensitivity in public speaking and good, productive communication.

- 'I am running the course from 2019, and students from all UG courses can sign up. Under normal circumstances, participants would present speeches on stage at the end of the exam - they would speak to the audience, show good gesture language, voice work, well-designed slides and so on. Today, in a pandemic, we needed something different,' - says dr Miłosz Wojtyna, the initiator of the project, - 'so I asked the students to prepare a group speech in which they would present an interesting, important message to the world, something relevant to the widest possible audience. They did very well.'

As dr M. Wojtyna persuades, whoever wants to repair the world should start with words.

- 'What the students say in this short recording is crucial for all of us: the understanding that despite the nasty circumstances, despite the disputes and the complete lack of mutual understanding, we still have a chance to do something good - to feel ok, to speak differently, to accept ourselves and others. Whoever wants to repair the world should start with words,' adds dr Miłosz Wojtyna.