My name is Ariadna, I am Swiss and Portuguese and have been living in London since 2016. I graduated in Politics and International Relations at Westminster and then went to King’s College London for my MA in Intelligence and International security. I ended up in administrative roles in law firms for a few years, which gave me a lot of useful skills, but I could not see myself in these roles for my whole career. It did not match my ambition, what I had studied or what I wanted to do with my life. So last summer I made a decision that felt both scary and right; I left my comfortable 9-5 job and went back to the University of Westminster to study International Law. It felt like reclaiming the path I always wanted to be on.
What I ultimately want is to be a meaningful contributor to the world I live in. I am drawn to the big and difficult issues such as conflicts, humanitarian emergencies and migration, not because they are abstract or part of my academic interests, but because they are real and looking at the world right now, it make it impossible to look away from them. I would like to have a career combining my interests in politics, security and human rights and working for an NGO or within the UN, somewhere where I can actually make a difference on those questions. Westminster and DEN have been a huge part of reconnecting me with that ambition. Being able to discuss these topics with peers and academic experts, to challenge my thinking and share perspectives has reminded me why I care so much about these topics and made me even more determined to achieve this goal.
Looking forward to visiting Tashkent:
I am genuinely excited about travelling to Uzbekistan. It has a fascinating history and culture as it is located at the heart of the Silk Road. I look forward to visiting Tashkent as it feels like a city with real character and stories to tell. I cannot wait to explore it, as a tourist but also to get to see it through the eyes of local people. I would like to discover the places local people like and go to, try the food they love to eat, and discover the corners of the city that do not make it into the tourist guides. This is the kind of experience that remains in one’s memory for life, and I would love to experience Tashkent that way.
Attending the TIMUN 2026 Conference makes this whole trip even more special. It is a unique opportunity to bring students and professionals from so many different countries, backgrounds and cultures together around a same table and talk about important and challenging topics. It will allow everyone to have their voice heard and that is something important and relevant both personally and professionally. Participating to this experience in Tashkent, which is a historically rich and multicultural city feels like a privilege. I am excited to connect everything I have been working towards in my academic journey and apply it in real life.
This experience will make me grow and I hope that it will also allow me to expand my network in a meaningful way. Beyond the Conference itself, I am excited to reinforce the already existing relationships with my peers from DEN and look forward to making new connections and friendships with students from Tashkent.
Ariadna Rita Lemos De Oliveira
Kalpna
Hi,
Insightful article on how education helps bridge cultural and geographical boundaries really highlights the importance of global learning and collaboration in today’s world. I’ve personally found useful guidance on studying abroad through https://www.studyinuk.com/, which complements these ideas well for students exploring international education opportunities.