Beyond the Bubble and Far Away

I finished my internship in a tech start-up in Edinburgh, graduated with a degree in international relations from the University of St Andrews, said bye to the “Bubble”, and moved from a tiny coastal town in Scotland to London. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has sailed into a storm of political and economic uncertainty caused by the decision of the British people to leave the European Union, and I started asking myself if I still feel welcome in the UK or not.

Having successfully completed my degree, I am spending this summer trying to get as much work experience possible in different areas. I have a few options open to me from September (from graduate jobs to further study) so this summer experience will hopefully help me answer some of my questions and decide where I want take my life in the future. I am also taking the advice we received at our graduation ceremony to heart:
“Do not be afraid to have big dreams – do not underestimate your worth, your skills, your mind, and never sell yourself short.”

Graduation Day with friends, Rector of the University, and Herman Van Rompuy, a fellow graduate and the first President of the European Council.

I have kept up with my reading challenge. Inspired by a free online course on Effective Altruism offered by the Princeton University, I just finished Doing Good Better by William MacAskill. The short book provides a beginner’s guide to effective altruism and suggests practical steps to maximising the positive impact of one’s on making the world a better place. Effective Altruism has recently gained a lot of traction on campuses in the USA and the UK and I would recommend the book to everyone who, like me, feels passionate about giving back and helping others.

Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported me so far in my studies and life abroad: my parents who have always been there for me, my friends who inspired me and motivated me to try harder, and finally The Kellner Family Foundation whose support enabled me to pursue this fantastic opportunity to study at a prestigious university abroad. The past five years not only allowed me to get a degree from the third oldest university in the English-speaking world but also changed my worldview and whole life in a way I would never imagine. If you are reading this post and are not sure if study abroad is for you, I would definitely encourage you to give it a go!