"The greatest gift I have received in life is a free Lithuania and the freedom to shape our future by ourselves. For 20 years, we've been proud members of the strongest alliances—the European Union and NATO. This has brought immense benefits to Lithuania. Those of you who visited us before surely noticed the progress. Now is the best time for Lithuania, and I am thrilled to be a part of it," said the Prime Minister.
In a Q&A session, the students asked different questions, ranging from her personal career to Lithuania's progress and its future. When asked about the most important aspect of keeping Lithuanian society, the Prime Minister said: "it is the understanding that freedom is something that has no price tag for which you could sell it." She emphasized that while it is uncomfortable to feel that nothing is guaranteed and eternal in the world, it is crucial to realize that freedom is not a given that has always been and will always be.
Ingrida Šimonytė noted Lithuania's role in consistently warning the world against Russian aggression, pointing to events in Sakartvelo and Ukraine. "It's hard to celebrate Lithuania's achievements when innocent people are suffering nearby," she added.
"It is so important that after restoring independence, we firmly pursued a clear goal—membership in the EU and NATO. Because of our membership in the EU and NATO, we are a safe country, living better than ever before. Fully understanding this, Lithuania supports Ukraine's and Moldova's European integration, Ukraine's NATO membership aspirations as the only true guarantee of security and lasting peace, as well as Armenia's democratic reforms and aspiration to get closer to the West, and the European and Euro-Atlantic choice of the people of Sakartvelo," she said.
On the subject of career opportunities, Šimonytė noted, "Lithuania is a land of opportunities. In a larger country, it might take much longer to achieve what can be done quickly here. Lithuania leads in IT, life sciences, and other fields, offering a variety of opportunities where people can rapidly advance," she said.
"You are a Lithuanian when you choose to be one; it's not about where you live. A Lithuanian is someone who loves Lithuania," she said adding that in today's constantly moving world, identity should not be tied to a specific location and expressed her hope to see these young talents in Lithuania again.
The LISS programme, a five-week initiative by the Lithuanian community in the United States, provides students of Lithuanian descent from the USA and Canada with the chance to intern in their fields, improve their language skills, and immerse themselves in Lithuanian life and culture.
This year, 27 participants, studying biochemistry, pharmacy, computer technology, finance, linguistics, interior design, and more, are in Lithuania. They are interning at the Vilnius University Life Sciences Centre, the State Vilnius University Hospital, and various private sector organizations.
In collaboration with Vilnius University, all LISS participants become official VU students. At the end of the programme, they take an exam to evaluate their internship-acquired skills. Successful participants are awarded with VU certificates, confirming their professional internship and earned credits.
