Gen

A Citizen of the World

I was in the British Section for seven years from Sixième (Français Spécial) till my Baccalauréat (ES), studying both at the Lycée International and at Collège Les Hauts Grillets. I was not always the easiest student - I was a bit mischievous and occasionally got into trouble but nevertheless, my years in the British Section remain among the most formative of my life.

What I remember most warmly is the people. I made lifelong friends whom I still speak to today, many of whom have gone on to do remarkable things in fields including the military, sustainability, consulting and law (and much more). There was a real sense that we were growing up together in an environment that encouraged us to think internationally and to be curious about the world.

I particularly remember my history teacher and his kindness, warmth and patience. He taught with genuine passion and made his history lessons feel so animated, accessible and fun. To this day, he remains one of my favourite teachers, and he taught me a great deal about teaching - something that I apply on a weekly basis as an instructor for the Army Cadet Force.

Being part of the British Section football club was also important to me. Scoring a few goals was enjoyable, but the experience meant much more than football. It helped me develop a sense of British identity that was inclusive rather than narrow. Regardless of where we had been born, our religion or our ethnic background, we studied, shared meals at the canteen and played together as British Section students. That sense of shared identity (and friendly rivalry with the other sections during the football tournament), while remaining comfortable across different cultures, has stayed with me ever since.

After leaving school, I studied War Studies at King’s College London, focusing on counterterrorism before completing a master’s degree in International Development at the London School of Economics, focusing on conflict and security. Since graduating, I have been working in the British government, working across diplomacy, crisis response, national security and public safety. My roles have included serving as a crisis officer and desk officer, and I now lead teams working on some of the most complex and important challenges facing the United Kingdom and the world. I am now taking a career break to pursue a Masters in Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, where I will focus on organised crime, state fragility and protection.

What I am so grateful for the British Section, is that it gave me academic rigour, multilingualism, intellectual curiosity and an international outlook. Just as importantly, it taught me how to move naturally between cultures. These qualities have become the foundation of both my identity and my career in diplomacy, security and public policy. I hope current students recognise how valuable this education is: it does not simply prepare you for examinations; it prepares you to become a citizen of the world.