I have always dreamed of France. When I started my studies at SGH, I could describe my level of knowledge of French language as "beginner," but I did not hesitate to move to the most advanced group in the year to learn as much as possible. As a result, the French language, together with statistics and macroeconomics with Professor Czarny, was the subject to which I devoted the most time and attention. As it turned out later, it was definitely one of the best decisions I made at the beginning of my studies. By selecting two additional subjects in French to the compulsory course of study, during the first two years I was able to master the language to a degree that allowed me to communicate freely.

In the third year (fifth semester) I went as part of the Erasmus+ exchange to study at SKEMA Business School on the Cote d'Azur. When studying at one of the prestigious French Grandes Écoles, I met wonderful people from all over the world and attended many practical and very interesting classes. This experience inspired me to return to France later.

Having completed most of the subjects already during the first two years of undergraduate studies, I was able to extend my stay abroad right after the exchange was finished and start an internship in a Paris start-up. As it turned out, it was a completely different experience than the one I had previously gained in one of the Warsaw corporations. Being part of a group of only six people (each of us specialized in digital marketing), I worked on projects for several major players on the French market, such as L’Oréal or Michelin. Apart from the multicultural aspect and the different work ethos, it was an extremely enriching experience for me.

It was also the moment when I decided to investigate more deeply the issues of France's multiculturalism, and in particular its impact on the domestic labour market, making it the subject of my BA thesis. I was lucky to be able to write my thesis under the supervision of Dr Marta Pachocka, specializing both in migration issues and in France as a country. Despite my stay abroad, Dr Pachocka helped me to write my work very well and prepare well for the defence.

After a four-month internship, I returned to Warsaw to pass my last exams and complete and submit my thesis. At the same time, I was offered an internship at the French Embassy in Poland in the Business France department, where for two months I helped French companies invest on the Polish market. This extremely interesting work opened many doors for me and showed me new ideas for the future. I was working in the public sector for the first time.

Shortly after completing the internship and defending my BA thesis, I started six-month internships in Cannes (as part of the Erasmus+ scholarship). I work in the wine sector, I am responsible for the company's marketing strategy, its visibility and communication in the network. The combination of digital marketing and communication gives me new development opportunities, and an internship in a small company is already associated with a lot of responsibility at the start and gives a great opportunity for self-fulfilment. For the first time I have the opportunity to work only in a French-speaking environment, which is a huge advantage for me.

Although the Cote d'Azur is definitely a pearl of France, both in terms of climate, landscape and architecture, I plan to continue my studies in Paris. The life of young people goes on there and the best universities have there their departments, including the selective French Grandes Écoles, offering students a combination of learning and professional experience under the so-called the "alternance" system. Returning to the French capital will also open me much more opportunities for development and getting my dream job.