MA (Hons) Anthropology & International Relations, 2010
From Aberdeen to Teaching Languages through Sport
Your Time at Aberdeen
Why did you choose to study at Aberdeen?
Outdoor access.
Why did you choose your particular course?
To learn how humans function.
What did you most enjoy about your time at Aberdeen? Did you have any particularly memorable student experiences?
Getting an 18 for my final year dissertation and running student elections.
If you were involved in any clubs and societies as a student, what did you enjoy most about them and what benefit do you think they have for students?
Running the Shared Planet café on Wednesdays: veg bags, soup & toasties, etc.
Did you hold any student leadership roles, e.g. Class Rep, Club Treasurer, Social Convenor?
President of the Shared Planet Society (2009-2010).
If talking to a group of prospective students, what advice would you give them to help them make the most of their time at the University of Aberdeen?
Get involved in student societies.
Your Time After Aberdeen
What was the title of your first job after graduating from Aberdeen?
Project Assistant at French NGO Initiative Development, based in Kunming, China.
What did your first role involve?
Conducting a capitalization of experience in Carbon finance and stove building.
What is your current job title?
President at Planet Citizens - Language Training 2024.
What is your current role?
Running the pilot project of the non-profit I founded.
Describe the journey from your first job after graduating to where you are now
Discovering different worlds: French NGO in China, parliamentary politics in France, running European, regional and general elections campaigns, English teaching in an underserved area's high school. My current project capitalizes on all these experiences.
Was your degree at Aberdeen essential for getting to where you are now? If so, in what way?
Yes. Anthropology gave me the codes to understand how humans function, International relations made me understand global dynamics. I learnt English in Scotland, I experience international mobility and discovered China through my year on exchange.
One Top Tip
Go discover the world, don't be afraid of taking a step away from a standard career path. Try to tackle the issues you care about.
