This section highlights some of the most relevant school-based projects I have led across various disciplines, along with the key skills I developed through them. I chose to exclude other extracurricular or non-academic projects such as guitar performances, theater productions, award-winning pitch for a startup idea at UCL, or essays on artificial organ transplantation completed during the Oxford Summer Experience to keep the focus on projects directly linked to my academic coursework.
Speech for peace in the world - Interreligious dialogue
I was able to participate to a conference framed by the International Encounters for Peace (“Rencontre Internationale pour la Paix”) project led by the Saint-Egidio organisation which annually brings together sociologists, scientists, political and religious leaders to discuss a global theme: this year, international collaboration for world peace, through a series of themed conferences.
My conference focused on the promotion of inter-religious dialogue in the search for a more peaceful and balanced world. I had the opportunity to meet, at the same time and in the same place, religious leaders: Catholics, Muslims, Jews and Buddhists from all over the world, who shared their views on inter-religious dialogue and the need to extend it in the search for international peace.
At the end of this conference, assigned solely to my class, I was given the role of presenting the progress made during this time of dialogue and exchange to all the students in my division: 330 11th year students. I found this work very interesting and formatting both on the psychological and spiritual way, but also on the societal point of view. This task reinforced my capacity for synthesis while pushing me to demonstrate my knowledge in front of a large audience and I really loved it !
Cryptocurrencies’s impact on global economy with focus on Bitcoin essay
As part of my Economics course, I conducted an in-depth research/essay project on the functioning, origins, and broader implications of cryptocurrencies, focusing on a case study of Bitcoin. This group assignment required us to examine how private agents create new forms of money, exploring the topic through multiple lenses
In my contribution, I analyzed the historical background, economic impact, foundational mechanisms, as well as the potential risks and opportunities that cryptocurrencies present in today's rapidly evolving financial landscape. This deep dive made me realize just how significant digital currencies are likely to become in the future economy, and how crucial it is to both understand and regulate them.
Throughout the project, I incorporated diverse perspectives from both French and international economists, which gave the work a rich multicultural dimension. I referenced thinkers such as Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman, particularly his 2018 article “Bubble, Bubble, Fraud and Trouble,” as well as Eswar Prasad, Joseph Stiglitz, and reports like the 2009 Edelman Trust Barometer; which reflects on public trust in financial institutions post 2008 crisis.
This experience greatly enhanced my research abilities and taught me how to synthesize complex viewpoints across different types of sources. Writing this essay was not only intellectually stimulating, but also personally meaningful, as it deepened my passion and strengthened my analytical and summarization skills.
Cultural Association flyers
In 10th grade, I took part in the creation of promotional flyers for a play staged by my high school's cultural association: "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" (VF: Notre Dame De Paris) adapted from the novel of the same name written by Victor Hugo in 1831.
As part of my study of the novel in French class, my teacher asked me to take part in this project, which consisted in promoting not only the play itself, but also the impact the original novel had on 19th-century French society and on saving the famous cathedral. We also interviewed the main director of this adaptation, interrogating him on subjects like the choice of music in this play or the choice of the time of representation: at the same time of the reconstruction of the real cathedral due to a fire.
This work, carried out with 4 other members of my class, was then printed and distributed in the school newspaper, as well as at the cultural association and on the 3 days of the play's performance.
Jean Diwo essay and Poems Anthology
In 10th grade, I had the opportunity to co-author a 68-page research project titled "Dossier documentaire : Florence, au temps où la Joconde parlait" with a group of classmates. This extensive essay focused on the Renaissance period in Florence, Italy; exploring the era’s artistic, architectural, and technological advancements. The project was created in conjunction with a school trip to Florence, where we visited major historical sites and witnessed innovations such as Galileo’s astronomical lunettes. Our work was also inspired by Jean Diwo’s novel Au temps où la Joconde parlait, which provided valuable historical context.
This project significantly strengthened my collaborative and research skills. It was a formative experience, as it marked the first time I contributed to a project of such length and depth. Our work was awarded the top grade (20/20), which was deeply rewarding.
In 11th grade, I pursued an independent poetry anthology project in my French class, selecting Youth as the central theme. I explored how the concept of youth has been represented in poetry across centuries and discovered that, despite historical and cultural changes, many ideas have remained remarkably consistent. I selected and analyzed six poems from the 16th to the 20th century, and paired each with a related work of art (including sculptures, paintings, and photographs) to enrich the interpretation.
This experience deepened my research abilities in literary and artistic fields, and helped refine my skills in literary analysis and thematic exploration.