Florence, 2024 Summa Cum Laude in Environmental Policy

The major skills that helped me succeed at PSIA were efficient time management and task planning. As I was working part-time at Citeo and doing some voluntary work alongside studying, I had to partition my time between academic and professional work. I was giving all my energy at work, then all my energy at school. This taught me "professional endurance" if I may say!

I met really good friends during my time at PSIA, and I think those people would be of the greatest help during all my career up to retirement! I know that they will give me excellent advice after listening to my worries at any time (and I hope to do the same for them!).

PSIA also taught me that being kind, compassionate and sensitive is a strength, not a weakness. And I will make use of these qualities in my future positions.

Never forget WHY you are doing what you are doing. Finding a reason (or several) takes time, but once you have it, everything goes more easily.

Finally, I would advise current and future PSIA students not to be too stressed about pursuing something completely different from their peers' careers. No job is less needed or prestigious than another.