International Relations Professional’s Day: Student extols teacher as her greatest inspiration
“Patrícia wasn’t just a teacher to me; she was a mentor, someone who saw potential in her students and encouraged us to pursue our own paths,” says student
Building bridges between cultures, negotiating agreements and engaging in commercial and diplomatic relations are some of the tasks that international relations professionals routinely work on. Today, September 26, is International Relations Professional’s Day in Brazil – a day earmarked to celebrate these people, who are essential for dealing with complex global issues.
To mark the occasion, FGV News spoke to Bruna Perobelli, a student on FGV’s international relations program. She revealed that one of her former teachers, Patrícia Pereira, helped inspire her, and she explained how her interest in international relations came about.
“Her classes, in which we discussed why countries go to war, the devastating impacts on society and who can intervene to help, awakened something deep in me. Patrícia wasn’t just a teacher to me; she was a mentor, someone who saw potential in her students and encouraged us to seek our own paths,” the student says.
Other reasons for her choice of international relations include its wide range of career opportunities, its role in anticipating the next steps of global players and the ability to be an active part in building a better future.
See the full interview below.
Who inspired you to study international relations?
I had my first contact with geopolitics in my last year at elementary school, and that’s when my passion for international relations began to emerge. The classes taught by Patrícia Pereira, in which we discussed why countries go to war, the devastating impacts on society and who can intervene to help, awakened something deep in me.
I’m still in contact with her and once a semester I try to go to my old school to see her, but we talk by email from time to time if I can’t make it to my city (Ribeirão Preto).
The question “Is the United Nations always responsible for this?” echoed in my mind, and it was then that I realized that this was more than just a passing interest – it was a real passion. I talked to my teacher to see if I could turn this passion into a career. Based on all her wisdom and experience, she explained to me about international relations degrees and suggested that I do more research on the subject.
How exactly did she inspire you?
She mentioned Professor Matias Spektor as a reference in the field and his major role in developing the curriculum for FGV’s program. Patrícia wasn’t just a teacher to me; she was a mentor, someone who saw potential in her students and encouraged us to pursue our own paths. The admiration I felt for her only increased when I realized that she was guiding me toward a career that made perfect sense for me.
Do you remember something notable this person said?
She always used to say that those who critically analyze what happens in the world and question the standard version of events have an advantage in terms of standing out and understanding what is to come. This has stayed with me and shaped the way I see the world and how I want to act in it.
What were your motivations for doing this program?
When I started to research FGV’s international relations program, I realized that it offered exactly what I was looking for: a solid foundation for understanding global dynamics from a political and economic perspective, as well as opening doors to work at large international companies, in areas such as exports or on global teams.
What are the main advantages of the program?
The breadth of opportunities offered by the program delighted me and motivated me even more. For me, being an international relations professional goes far beyond diplomacy; it means understanding how the world behaves, anticipating the next steps of global players and being an active part in building a better future.
To find out more about the FGV School of International Relations, visit its website.
This article is part of a special series called Inspiring Examples. Read the other articles, based on other commemorative dates:
Leia também