Student life: growing a project and growing with it, the journey of Yasser Refak (PGE)

When he joined SONORD in 2023, after his preparatory class, Yasser was above all looking for a way to pursue his passion for rap within a student association. He found a group where music was both a space for creativity and a way to bring people together. Soon after the start of the academic year, he became involved in the “collective division”, dedicated to rap and beatmaking, and helped organise the “Grunt”, a format that has become one of the association’s signature events.

Held in flats across Lille, the Grunt brings together students who come either to perform or to discover a world they may know little about. “It is a moment of sharing, of cohesion between people who love rap,” Yasser explains. “We are there to have a good time. There is no star.”

“You have to establish the identity of the event”

The event stands out for its supportive atmosphere. Some participants perform in front of an audience for the first time, encouraged by a crowd Yasser describes as “ultra-receptive”. For him, this atmosphere is one of the keys to the project’s success. “We are there to enjoy ourselves and spend a good moment together around rap.”

Stepping out of his comfort zone

What Yasser takes from SONORD, however, goes far beyond music. When he arrived at SKEMA, he did not imagine himself speaking in front of dozens of people or hosting events. Yet, over the years, he found himself coordinating projects, presenting evenings and supporting new members of the association. “I discovered myself,” he says. He adds: “Before, I didn’t do that.”

This change did not happen overnight. He remembers his first experiences speaking in front of several dozen participants, the pressure of having to hold the attention of a large audience and set the tone for the evening. “You have to establish the identity of the event. Once people understand it, everything unfolds by itself,” he explains.

For him, the experience became a school of self-confidence. “It helped me a lot,” he says. He also believes that his responsibilities within the association helped him develop skills that are useful far beyond campus life.

Seeing a project grow

One of the distinctive features of Yasser’s journey is its duration. Having spent three years on the Lille campus, he was able to follow SONORD’s development across several successive committees, something quite rare in student associations.

When he arrived, the Grunt already existed, but it was still a small-scale event. With the association’s different teams, he helped it grow. Word of mouth spread, events sold out in seconds and capacity increased. “We wanted it to take off,” he recalls.

The association also opened up to students from other institutions in the Lille metropolitan area. Over time, participants from other schools joined the project, bringing a wider range of profiles to the events.

This momentum can also be seen in “Nuisances SONORD”, another flagship project run by SKEMA’s music association on the Lille campus. Year after year, the event grew in scale, welcoming recognised artists and attracting participants from other business schools. For Yasser, this progress shows what student projects can achieve when they are built over time.

The importance of passing things on

Beyond the events themselves, Yasser remembers the human impact of the experience above all. He says he saw many students gain confidence, start writing or perform on stage for the first time. “The room for progress is incredible,” he explains, referring to members who revealed real talent over the months.

This development convinced him of the importance of passing things on within student associations. Over the years, he moved from being a new member who looked up to older students to becoming a reference point for the next generations. “When you arrive, you see the older members as role models. Then one day, it is your turn to pass things on.”

Find out more about student associations at SKEMA Business School