At 16, I made one of the hardest but most important decisions of my life: I left my home in Spain to move to the United Kingdom alone, with one goal better education. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I also knew it was necessary. My parents supported me, even though they couldn’t come with me. Since then, I have grown not only as a student but as a person who takes responsibility for their choices especially when it comes to sustainability and how we live and move in the world.
This year, I’m proud to be continuing my international education journey through an exchange program in Paris. As someone who has studied in three different countries, I’ve realised how much travel and education are connected but also how much our movement impacts the planet. That’s why I’ve made it a priority to make my placement in Paris as sustainable as possible, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
For example, I chose to travel to Paris by Eurostar train instead of flying. This decision alone helped reduce my carbon footprint significantly. While living in Paris, I use public transport (especially the metro and RER), and I often walk or use city bikes like Vélib’. I consciously avoid using taxis or ride-hailing services, unless absolutely necessary.
Sustainability also means thinking about how I live day to day. I’ve committed to reducing waste: I carry a reusable water bottle and coffee cup, shop with my own bags, and avoid plastic packaging whenever possible. I shop for food at local markets rather than large supermarket chains, which not only supports small businesses but also reduces the carbon emissions involved in long-distance food transport. I also buy second-hand clothes from local thrift stores instead of fast fashion brands. These choices help me reduce both waste and consumption key parts of SDG 12.
At university, I actively participate in sustainability groups and environmental workshops. At my home university in the UK, I was part of the Sustainability Society, where we organised student clean-ups and campaigns to reduce plastic on campus. In Paris, I plan to get involved with similar student-led initiatives, such as zero-waste groups or Erasmus environmental clubs. I believe that as international students, we have a responsibility not only to learn from other cultures, but also to contribute positively to them.
Receiving this scholarship would not only support me financially during my exchange year it would give me a greater platform to continue promoting sustainable practices among young people. I am proud of my journey from Spain to the UK and now to France, and I want to make sure that this journey is not only about education, but also about impact. I am committed to making my international experience as sustainable as possible and to encouraging others to do the same
