I do a lot more stuff aside of creating content, learning about coaching if not consuming wellbeing, high performance content. Even reading about all these self development books which I love so much and find inspiration and golden nuggets for me and the people around me. Self improvement for and others is something non negotiable. I’ve been helping many people for years now but this post will be different. It’s about education for a better world to live in respect together.
This post is about my personal story through education. Something I’ve been struggling in my childhood growing up back in my home town. I indeed struggled with learning and listening so I ended up in special need education. Something I couldn’t accept myself but found necessary at the end of the day.
Secondary school
Secondary school period for me marked the start of true evolution. Despite being in an inferior level of education and sometimes isolated I was one of the best in my form. I was in my bubble in my own environment. I was also living in an isolated village in a valley far from everything and that wasn’t easy. Today as I remember this chapter of my life I now believe this was necessary. It protected me from bad influences from people I used to have as friends. During this period I was living in my bubble in my own environment. So I focused on intellectual topics such as science, astronomy, languages, politic and history.
I became so intellectual that many of my school mates called me the nerd haha. So I became one of the best from my form. Ended up by passing the final exam and will never forget that day. I passed my exam on the 25th June 2009 on the day of the death of my favourite singer Michael Jackson. I was super proud and confident on that day, it was hot and sunny and gave me a momentum for the future.
Early High school
High school was a big shift for me because I’ve left home for the first time in my life. I was facing tension and psychological violence from a step dad. So I’ve made the decision of leaving home a year after my brother. I feared the unknown and had so much apprehension within myself. My decision of leaving home for a boarding school was not easy as I faced bullying from others. On the flipside I had some of my great friends with me. I’ve made good company through my time there. My school was located at few kilometres from the coast and I found comfort anyway of being away from my tumultuous environment. However I came back home on the weekends and for school holidays.
During the summer 2010 I’ve faced one of the biggest challenge as a teenager. I was indeed 17 years old at that time. My mum and I decided to move out from the countryside to a flat in Amiens. This was a huge relief for me of moving out after 4 years in that house. But also in the other had I had to face the biggest surgery of my life. The more I grew up the more my upper lip was going up and in order to fix that, they had to flip my lower lip to transplant to the upper lip. I was left after the surgery with my mouth closed for at least 3 weeks with a feeding tube and completely weaken.
I was also experiencing panic attacks that could arise at anytime day and night. In the worse case I had sit down on the side of my bed to breath to calm myself down. In the middle of all this I was so happy of the successful surgery I’ve had. Gave me determination for the school come back on September!
Second year of High school
Before the come back to school I had to go through another surgery to open my mouth. This was another painful moment but I was thinking about the relief I would be feeling at the end. I was also really looking forward to go back to school but this time because of the dodgy neighbourhood I was living in. Where most of the youngsters were lost without purpose dealing with drug and provoked violence. Every Friday evening I could see police cars heading for my street. Otherwise I’ve had improved my marks and continued my learning in a decisive year for a exam in June. This year I got elected class delegate to represent my schoolmates at school councils.
Because my schoolmates trusted me for this position. I felt more compassion from them than the previous year because of what I’ve been through last summer in this year 2010. The support I’ve received helped me to go through another surgery in Winter 2011. I indeed had another one to transplant bones from my skull to fit in my gum to prevent from loosing my teeth. This was due to my facial cleft I was born with. I had to deal with headache and was under medications prescription. I kept studying under medical supervision. But you know what I passed all the exams at the end of the year!
First Highschool change
In September 2011 I’ve made the choice of carrying on my studies for a 3 years Baccalaureate training (Equivalent A level in the UK). However I wasn’t in a boarding school anymore so every morning I had to wake up at 5:30 AM to take the train for the countryside about an hour away from Amiens. I surprisingly bumped into former primary school mates. This made me so happy to meet them again after so many years studying at an inferior level and now being at the same level as them! I had a feeling of fulfilment taking over me. I had the determination to become a good student and that’s something I’ve achieved.
But not everything seemed to be rosy as I faced a turbulent classroom and not even the principal responded to the incidents. I had to face bullying again but this time I remained calm and stoic for the first time. To be honest with you my teachers had enough of inactions from the direction and complained to my mum at the parent teacher meetings. They made everything to make me comfortable to stay on track.
The Dublin experience
Through the hardships I remained consistent in my work and something unexpected and exciting was waiting for me at the end of the tunnel. I was indeed chosen to go for a training period in a company in Dublin. They reserved to spots for the most deserving students and I was one of them.
For the first time in my life I’ve been to another country working and hosted by locals. One of my best experiences I love to remember. So we arrived in Dublin in May 2012 to stay up to June 2012 and I describe it as one of my first experiences as a leader. I was the only one from the group of four speaking good English. It came after years of staying enclosed in my shell away from bullying from others.
I’ve self learned English in a way to go beyond my own environment. Because I repeated myself I would need it in the future. Indeed this was my real first experience on the ground that was key for my education. For the first time in my life I was away from my family and liberated from overprotection. I always visualised myself evolving out of France and bingo! Here I am in London!
Irish people were so welcoming everywhere I’ve been to! I used to work for a laptop shop in Stephen Green in central Dublin. For the first time in my life I repaired laptops and updated software. I really enjoyed this experience and it just didn’t laid the foundations for my future out of France but gave me confidence to continue in that path I was on!
Final exam
When I came back things were not the same for me. I was so proud this experience opened me the doors and the confidence of potentially moving abroad. That is why I was so confident and free from fear when I moved to London in 2019. I also came back into my turbulent environment (riots in my neighbourhood and troubled class). But this time as the old me was suffering from from lack of space for studying due to my time spent in transports I’ve lost confidence in myself and doubted a lot. I couldn’t bear my environment anymore so I fell into the trap of identifying myself to it. However in the other hand I had this faith of bouncing back one day. I had the confidence next year I will but didn’t know how yet.
I gave up everything because I was suffering from a burnout. Didn’t feel at my best in the inside and fear had taken over me. It was crippling regarding the external consequences for my fate. But criticisms didn’t matter for me as I was determined to repeat a year. No one from my family, friends or the high school couldn’t support me. Ironically the only sentence written on my school report was “He only works at English. Consequently I failed my final exams at the end of the year in 2014.
I could finally the end of the tunnel when I learned I will move out to the Paris region. However spent my time looking for a new high school to repeat my repeat my year. At the end of the day I found another boarding school in the peaceful town of Romilly sur Seine located in eastern France.
New place, life reset
Excitement and joy are the first two words I can put to describe this new start. Hope is what really embodied my 2014 come back to school. This time that wasn’t me who doubted on my capacities but my teachers. They were great teachers by the way and genuinely supportive after my disastrous last year. They knew about my journey and they shared with me their doubts they had on how I would rise again to pass the exams. I had just moved to a new part of France with different expressions and idioms. I rapidly got accustomed to the people there and made new friends.
On top of that I had no more bullying from anyone and focused more easily everyday on the courses and homeworks at the end of each day at the boarding school. I had a lot of fun which was so rewarding after years of bullying leading me to the breakthrough. My studies became my primary focus and I knew I was worthy of my success and really loved to have been part of the Diderot high school in Romilly sur Seine.
I was so happy to be settled there at the boarding school and will never forget these years that changed my life for the best. As I thought I wouldn’t cope by the fact of completely moving to another region. I really felt sad and depressed of leaving my hometown at first sight. But I turned out that what I really needed to pursue my studies in commerce. I could finally see the light from the end of the tunnel and my results were encouraging and what a great great achievement at the end of 2014!
The turning point and the breakthrough of 2015
I was so happy and excited to go back to school after the Christmas break. The sky was typically grey for a January and was taking my lunch at the dining hall and checked my phone before eating. The news feeds reported of a killing at the Charlie Hebdo headquarters. As the news spreads we kept ourselves updated of the situation and the army would be deployed as the terrorists were on the loose. The people who died were famous caricaturists who depicted religious figures and stuff. By the way even not agreeing with what they’ve done I couldn’t believe what was happening. I felt compassion and respect for them and for the other victims in the next days particularly in a Jewish grocery shop in eastern Paris.
The following days we had security measures we never had before. We were so scared that other attacks would take place. Muslim communities faced discriminations and everyone might had suspicions on anyone. It made me really angry to see people being assaulted and discriminated because of who they were. I reminded my past traumas in my bullying few year prior and that was because of who I was. Despite the chaos at the beginning of this year I felt like I was at the top of the mountain. Against the predictions of some people, against criticisms, against the fears of not succeeding I passed my exams easily in peace. On top of that I received a congratulations diploma from my teachers! Because I deserved of this success and worthy of who I am!
During the exams I was on the process of enrolment for what’s next. My main option was to go for a technical commercial degree. Because I wanted to continue in that field to learn more about customer relations and negotiations. That’s why I love building connections with my customers at the Deli and will do in my coaching I’ll deliver. I got admitted at the other high school in the same town I was studying in. So excited for my journey to continue!
Higher Education
In September 2015 I indeed started a new degree in commerce in a different high school but in the same town. I was with most of my schoolmates back from the year before but most importantly I’ve met other incredible people. I had the privilege to be in the same town so it was so easy for me. On my first day I still had the fear of bullying anyway and that was a feeling I carried through the years. Even though I was almost in the same environment with almost the same people. On my first day at a new boarding school I had the feeling of fear.
But someone who became a close friend that made me at my ease. This person is not alive anymore and writing about him is a way to pay tribute and to make his memory living. This encounter changed my life and contributed to be the person I am today. His name was Charles and his personality made him a King and very special! He helped those who came his way and he was someone who never expected anything in return. That’s a high level of morality and we could see on his glowing face.
Someone who respected and embraced the diversity of people who once told me whoever you are you are capable to succeed. The focus on my studies remained the same but the level was a bit harder than last year. I knew back in that time I was destined for great things and I finally found within myself what I want to become. This feeling is amplified today become due to the best understanding of myself. The year 2015 is coming to a close and another event will shake France and the world.
13th of November 2015 Paris attacks
When I was peacefully focused on my studies despite the struggles I took time to chill with my mates. We were looking forward the weekend ahead. Many of my mates and family were in Paris that evening especially to see the football game France-Germany. Until shooting started to happen in some locations across Paris. The stadium was among the targets with suicide bombers who initially planned to blow themselves up inside but ended up in doing so outside injuring loads of people. These sparked a lot of fear and confusion among us. The fear of learning anyone I knew would be among the victims and made me not to sleep well that night. Countless of victims from all faiths without distinctions and didn’t realised in that moment such a thing was happening near me.
The terrorists had the belief to be superior compared to the rest of others. It also contributed to the rise of the far right and discriminations on the other side from people who believe their are superior. This period left me deeply deeply shocked and made me realise from this point the importance of education in all fields and for everyone. I started to go to Paris more regularly no matter the security measures and concerns. I visited the museums and particularly one of the most famous in the world which is the Louvre. Education should be inclusive and for everyone to cultivate respect between us. Discovering other cultures and other horizons is a desire these events amplified within me.
Conclusion to seeking knowledge
This diversity of challenges made the person I am today as a knowledge seeker. This knowledge is mainly about how to be better and helping others and it’s never complete. I’m always excited by what else I can learn to maximize my impact. The question I ask myself is how can I turn my past experiences into an asset? Creating content on this blog is the first decision I’ve made and also optimizing my Instagram page. I’m on top of that enthusiastic in sharing my knowledge to the crowds around me whoever they are and wherever they are from. Sharing online to make sure people can enjoy around the world wherever they are.
People often ask me “Why creating a blog?” because simply to interact with people from around the world on self-improvement journey. Creating bonds and relationships to make it even healthier as it boosts immune system, reduce stress, increases self esteem, contribute to a longer life expectancy and finally promote healthier behaviours! Promoting healthier behaviours is what I do in and out of this blog on a daily basis with my relationships.
There’s a moment in my self improvement journey I’ve mentioned in a previous post is when I sat down on a sunny day at the Pear Tree caffe in Battersea park. On a busy Saturday morning sipping my expresso surrounded by so many people completely thoughtful. Thinking London is an unique place as it’s one of the best cosmopolitan capitals in the World. That is why London became my home in 2019 and proud to be part of it. With all the chaos and negativity going on in the world I believe it’s important to focus on positivity and there are so many things positive in the world. The self development industry is fast growing aside of the chaos worldwide. I always affirm that I believe in myself to succeed in this industry in bringing value to people.
So I keep learning because helping others to be at their best is exactly what I want to do in my career. Creating a community of like-minded people is what I dream of no matter the backgrounds, colour or Religions. Because unity makes us stronger against negativity and against terror or chaos. Education is uplifting and sharing knowledge is a form of unity. That’s why it’s the most powerful weapon and help in solving many problems and I will end with this Stoic quote below and will see you soon!
You become what you put your intention to. if you don’t choose what you expose yourself to, someone else will. (Epictetus)
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. (Nelson Mandela)
