“The French American Academy has prepared me in so many different ways for the real world. The small class sizes fostered a more personalized education, allowing me to explore my interests at my own pace and liking. “
Attended FAA: 3rd to 8th Grade
Current School (Starting Fall 2025): Accepted to the London School of Economics (Considering Offer)
Q: Tell me about your background, interests, and educational journey thus far?
I was born to a French-Colombian mother and an American father, and I grew up speaking both Spanish and English with my friends and family. My mom always wanted me to get more in touch with my French side of the family, so she enrolled me into the French American Academy from 3rd grade until high school where the French culture and education shaped me into the person I am today.
My academic and personal interests all started with the Ambassadeurs en Herbe program, and since then, I’ve had a passion for international relations and diplomacy. Now, a senior in high school, I’m participating in several activities, and I have won several awards at various Model United Nations conferences, which I am now leading as president of my school’s club.
Q: The French American Academy emphasizes project-based learning. Were there any hands-on projects or experiences that left a lasting impact on you or shaped how you approach learning today?
One of my favorite projects I’ve participated in at the FAA was the comedie musicale Face à Face facilitated by Madame Venturelli in 8th grade. The project took nearly a year of planning, writing, filming, editing, and hard work.
The project was something I took great pride in. It made me realize how there are so many elements behind the scenes that we often neglect, not just in films but in any project. It also made me realize how much respect and admiration I have for teachers like Madame Venturelli who went above and beyond to help a bunch of anxious, pimple-faced 8th graders turn into what can only be described as movie stars. Her motivation, character, and approach to hard work still serve as an inspiration to me in all of my future endeavors. Teachers like her made any goal seem possible to reach.
Q: How has your time at the French American Academy contributed to your personal growth?
The French American Academy has prepared me in so many different ways for the real world. The small class sizes fostered a more personalized education, allowing me to explore my interests at my own pace and liking. It has allowed each student, at least for me, to receive specialized support academically and emotionally, as one’s pre-teen years are a significant and confusing time in one’s life. Without even realizing it at the time, the French culture woven into the school’s teaching style left a lasting impact on me. On one of the first days of high school, when the principal walked into the classroom, I was the only loser who stood up from my desk and said good morning.
Q: The French American Academy emphasizes project-based learning. Were there any hands-on projects or experiences that left a lasting impact on you or shaped how you approach learning today?
One of my favorite projects I’ve participated in at the FAA was the comedie musicale Face à Face facilitated by Madame Venturelli in 8th grade. The project took nearly a year of planning, writing, filming, editing, and hard work.
The project was something I took great pride in. It made me realize how there are so many elements behind the scenes that we often neglect, not just in films but in any project. It also made me realize how much respect and admiration I have for teachers like Madame Venturelli who went above and beyond to help a bunch of anxious, pimple-faced 8th graders turn into what can only be described as movie stars. Her motivation, character, and approach to hard work still serve as an inspiration to me in all of my future endeavors. Teachers like her made any goal seem possible to reach.
Q: How did your time at the FAA prepare you for the challenges of High School and College?
Again, the small class sizes at the FAA have allowed me to better connect with my teachers. Despite my high school’s ~1,500 student population, I still found a way to connect with my teachers in meaningful ways, something I’ve picked up from the French American Academy.
These relationships have been sources of motivation for my hard work in high school, academically, and in my extracurriculars. Of course, when it came time to apply to university, their impactful recommendation letters have helped me tremendously with my applications. The risk-taking and cultural awareness skills I took away from the FAA will also be useful when moving abroad for university in the fall.
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or ten years, and how do you think your bilingual education will continue to shape your journey?
As of now, I have finished all of my university applications. I applied to 5 universities in the United Kingdom, 1 in France, 1 in Hong Kong, and 1 in the United States.
I’m still unsure where I’ll end up in 5 years time, but if I were to make a decision right now, I would love to continue pursuing a multilingual education wherever I decide to study. I feel that I’ve gotten as much as I could out of the French American Academy to be able to study and live abroad in France, but I’m also captivated by new experiences. For example, in high school, I developed a strong interest in the Chinese language and culture, now in my fourth year of learning the language.
Ideally, I’d like to become a diplomat, like my grandfather, representing one of my countries, France and the United States, or another that speaks out to me in a different way. Regardless, my bilingual education has largely been the foundation for my motivations and goals in high school and beyond. Once again, I am so grateful for the teachers that have played such an important role in my upbringing both from the ones I’ve already mentioned and those I’ve not. Overall, the French American Academy has shaped me in so many ways that have made me become so much closer to the ideal person I aspire to be.
The FAA shaped who I am as a student and a person, and it will always hold a special place in my heart.
Q: Were there any school trips, events, or activities that made a lasting impression on you?
Although I’m still frustrated we couldn’t go on a school trip to New Orleans in the 7th grade [Due to the Pandemic], I do look back in appreciation at the annual school trips the FAA planned since I joined the school in 3rd grade.
It’s funny how I still remember crying alone in the cabin at Frost Valley on the first night because I missed my parents so much and now, I can’t wait to study all the way in China for over a year. The times certainly have changed. Speaking of Frost Valley, I still have so many cherishable memories from that trip in 3rd grade. Some moments that come to mind are the bus trip to the camp where I kept taking pictures with my friend with my disposable camera even though I wasn’t allowed to bring it. I also remember that first dinner at camp and the first time I went to bed without my mom’s home-cooked meals. But the nostalgia really hits me on those nights when we sang Ensemble by Jean-Jacques Goldman (the one that goes souviens-toi…only the OGs will remember) while getting a stomach ache after eating the burnt marshmallows that Ms. Radoncic promised tasted much better than the golden-brown ones.
Although I could not remember to tell you a single survival skill that I learned at that camp, I learned something way more important (besides the power of friendship of course): how crucial it is for one to step out of their comfort zone as early as possible.
For that reason, I think the FAA school trips were so important, not just for the valuable knowledge we gained along the way, but for the sense of autonomy and curiosity I took back with me for the rest of my life.
