I first realized that I wanted to study politics at the start of the campaigns for the American presidential elections; it was the first time that I truly wanted to follow the whole of the election process, understand how it worked but also how people voted. Then came the Spanish general elections of 2016, which led to Spain not having a proper government nor president for 10 months. Lastly, the EU referendum, the results of which I could never have predicted. Lastly, the fact that I could have never predicted the results of the Brexit referendum only strengthened my desire to apprehend the complexity of our political system.

These 3 major events impacted my way of seeing the world and made me realize that I wanted to learn about what makes a politician and how I can become one as well. At school, I chose to go into the economics and social course which has enabled me to get a general grasp on the basics of politics and economics. Politics is a social activity which consists of people discussing and disagreeing, it’s what makes it so interesting (which is something that I find extremely interesting). This made politics the “master science” for Aristotle. In broader terms, the political system is used to make, preserve and amend the rules that dictate society. And I want to be able to be a part of the process.

Every morning I walk to school, it’s a 20-minute walk, and every morning I use those 20 minutes to listen to political podcasts. I know that by doing this I am already more involved in politics than the vast majority of the people that go to my school. It’s incredible to see just how much governmental proceedings can vary from country to country and all the relations that we build in between them despite those differences. International relations teaches the way that countries interact with each other, in a political, economic and cultural context. I come from a multicultural background which has enabled me to learn about politics in different countries and what people think politically, depending on whom I speak to and where they come from. It has also enabled me to speak French, English, and Spanish fluently (Thanks to this, I am fluent in French, English and Spanish); I believe that languages are a vital part of what makes up a countries’ culture. This is why I want to keep learning new languages (which makes me want to keep on learning new ones). It’s through language that as human beings we can communicate with each other and are able to exchange knowledge, opinions, and beliefs. The more languages I learn the better I can understand the politics of the world.

Since 2013, I have been a shareholder and co-director of Ibero produce a family exportation business. For the past 5 years, I have been helping in every way I can to contribute to the growth and stability of the company, doing as much as was possible in the realm of my capacities, such as helping with translation work and business meetings. It has been an extremely valuable experience which has taught me a lot of useful skills that I believe I can use. I’ve learned to be confident and comfortable in important work meetings as well as being able to balance my school work with my other responsibilities. At school, I chose to tackle issues such as the social and work integration of people with mental disabilities, or the use of political power to allow torture such as waterboarding.

My intentions were to inform while using critical analysis and reasoned argument to make my point. Outside of school, I’ve dedicated my spare time to tutoring and charity work as well as theatre and climbing. During the holidays I worked as a French teacher and monitor at a summer camp in Spain. I am determined and hardworking and have always felt the need to do as much as I can to contribute to myself growth. I use my remaining time to read for pleasure and to broaden my knowledge. I read political books such as “The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order” by Samuel Huntington, and philosophical books such as “Xenophobe’s guide to the Germans” by Stephan Zeidenitz and Benjamin Barkow.

For me, my cultural wisdom is an important part of understanding the world. In order to fix the world for the better, I must comprehend it first.