Mountaineering teaches one lesson better than anything else: your life hangs by a thread. A loose rock, one careless step or a storm arriving ten minutes earlier can be enough to end it. The mountain does not care who you are, where you come from or what you had planned for tomorrow.
Once you understand that, it becomes difficult to believe that humans stand above nature. We are not its masters. We are only one species among millions, fortunate enough to explore it for a brief moment.
That is why I cannot think about travelling without also thinking about responsibility. Every journey has an environmental cost. The question is whether the value of each journey justifies the footprint it leaves behind.
This conviction influenced my choice to spend my exchange year at the University of Edinburgh. I deliberately chose a European destination. I could not eliminate the emissions associated with studying abroad, but I could reduce them significantly while still benefiting from an outstanding academic opportunity. To me, sustainability is about making the most responsible choice available.
Once in Scotland, I hope to discover as much of the Highlands and their National Parks as possible by train, bus and on foot. If the opportunity arises and it is safe, I would also like to hitchhike. Slow travel offers time to observe, meet people and develop a genuine understanding of the places we visit.
These choices reflect the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that matter most to me, particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). I see them as practical principles that guide everyday decisions, including the way I travel.
The mountains have also taught me that respecting nature is a privilege. Following Leave No Trace principles, limiting unnecessary consumption, buying second-hand or organic products whenever possible and relying on public transport are simply coherent choices. Unfortunately, they often come at an additional financial cost, especially as a student. This scholarship would help me remain faithful to these commitments throughout my year abroad.
Looking further ahead, I hope to dedicate my career to environmental policy. Through economics, international cooperation and public policy, I want to contribute to tackling climate inaction and designing solutions that encourage societies to consume more thoughtfully and live more sustainably. I would be particularly interested in working for organisations such as the United Nations Environment Programme or the European Union, and I hope that, one day, my work may also contribute to the scientific and policy efforts led by the IPCC.
Receiving a BUTEX Scholarship would be a great honour. Beyond the financial support, it would represent the confidence of an organisation whose vision of international mobility and environmental responsibility closely reflects my own values.
