"Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there". This Virginia Burden quote resonates in every way the essence of international relations. Cooperation is the very centre of our society and is something I thoroughly value. During my education in the French schools of Brussels and London, I had the privilege to study with dozens of fellow students of different cultures, which has allowed me to make friends from all over the world. This has made me realise that it is important to live and enjoy life together. My passion for international cooperation began with History lessons and most importantly the World Wars. Such a proof of human horror and killings between different nations, ethnicities and cultures made me think about the importance of global relations and ensuring that various cultures work together to achieve a greater good. I have the privilege of having travelled all over the globe and discovered many places. From the central European charms of Vienna to the cosmopolite life of London, the fascinating culture of China and the alien landscape of Iceland, my exposure to different cultures has been quite extensive.

Coming from Belgium, a small country torn by cultural and linguistic problems between the French speaking Walloons and the Dutch speaking Flemish, my interest for diplomacy and international relations was a logical step forward. In addition, I am fluent in French, Dutch and English, as well as having a very good working knowledge of German. My next aspiration is to learn Russian, as I find Russia a fascinating country that reflects many aspects of Mankind in its History. As seen recently in the news, it also still plays a big role in today’s world. I like to keep myself regularly informed on World news through various sources and networks such as the BBC or Russia Today to keep an impartial opinion on global stories. I also read "The Economist" every week and frequently participate in political debates on either web forums, with my friends or family. I also have a desire to work abroad. During the summer of 2013, I worked at a small French restaurant called "El Pinche Frances" in Ensenada, Mexico whilst on a visit. It was a fantastic experience in a place far from home and its comfort, with my main responsibility being to serve the customers at lunchtime.

As someone who is victim to a physical handicap to my right-hand side of the body, I have never accepted either being excluded as a result of this or benefiting from this. I try to be as fit as possible and otherwise accept life as it is. To improve my condition, I attend the physiotherapy twice a week and have had surgery to improve my hand's mobility. Overall, my condition has made me a stronger person mentally.

I am ready to work hard. The French educational system is one of the most demanding ones, with long school days going from 8:30AM until 6:30 PM throughout the entire week and a lot of evening homework. In addition we do a lot of group projects. For example in one of them we covered the IRA and its impact on Irish history. This proved to be an interesting project. It illustrated the pros and cons of working together in a group but also the importance of cooperation for modern society. I was also voted class representative during the French equivalent of year 10 and year 11. In this capacity I strived to speak up for, and, where necessary, defend my fellow students during Student Staff meetings.

For all the reasons above, I hope you see me as a very suitable candidate for the "International Relations" course.