Issue link: https://publications.tfs.ca/i/1540856
DESTINATION / DESTINATION Sciences Po and the University of British Columbia PROGRAMME / PROGRAM Arts NIHLA S. Nihla has always been drawn to understanding people, how they think, where they come from and what shapes the way they see the world. That curiosity began early, nurtured by a bilingual household and a tight-knit community at the West Campus, which she joined in Grade 1. "It felt like a second home," she says. "The families, the teachers, everyone knew each other and everyone cared. I didn't realize how much I was pushed to think about different perspectives." TFS' focus on languages helped set the tone for her experience defined by empathy and the confidence to pursue change. Whether it was the languages she practised from home to school, picking up German or even a trip to Switzerland where she communicated with her host family entirely in French, Nihla came to see languages as a bridge to connect with people. At the Senior School, she brought that same open- mindedness to every room she entered. Subjects such as global politics, French and even biology, helped her to see how issues could be interconnected and solved. Clubs like Model UN became a formative part of Nihla's time at TFS, starting with a mock session in Grade 6 where she first discovered a passion for global affairs. From representing Mexico in an early classroom simulation to attending international conferences in New York and beyond, she found herself captivated by the challenge of understanding issues from unfamiliar perspectives. One particularly memorable experience was serving on an immigration committee, where she, representing South Sudan, met another delegate who was from that country. Their conversation brought the realities of displacement and conflict into sharp focus. "That was the moment I realized how much I wanted to work internationally and give back through the connections I made from people's stories." One special connection Nihla made was during a personal project for the MYP, a children's book she wrote and is still working on publishing. The story, about a caterpillar who dreams of becoming a butterfly, was inspired by her experience volunteering with neurodivergent children. She recalls one child in particular: "She couldn't speak, but I learned how she expressed herself," she says. "She would start trying to learn how to say my name and eventually that made me realize that I do want to have a part of my career that impacts children's lives." Nihla is pursuing international relations through a dual- degree program between UBC and Sciences Po in France, where she's also minoring in African studies. "So much of what I'm doing now ties back to TFS," she says. "The community, the global focus, even just sitting in a class and being able to debate with someone who doesn't necessarily agree with you, but still shares the same fundamental values. That shaped who I want to be." 41 TFS