Alumni Stories

What does it take to transform from a shy student to a confident classroom leader? In this episode of Alumni Stories, Sarah  takes us through her unexpected journey to becoming a history teacher at Luxembourg's Lycée Robert-Schuman. Sarah's story begins with a surprising confession – she originally wanted to be a veterinarian. But witnessing the profound impact teachers had on her peers...

Forget everything you thought you knew about librarians. In this captivating Alumni Stories episode, Kim Monteiro shatters stereotypes as she takes us through her journey from anxious history student to confident librarian specialist at the Luxembourg Learning Centre. Kim's story begins with her decision to study history at the University of Luxembourg, driven by family ties and the universit...

What happens when you stop doubting and start doing? Sarah Bamberg's trajectory from banking to becoming an executive officer at the Film Fund Luxembourg reveals how embracing uncertainty can lead to unexpected success.  Having once believed she lacked the ability for university studies, Sarah now analyses scripts, selects projects for funding, and shapes Luxembourg's cultural landscape....

The journey from student to teacher isn't always smooth, but for Maxime Schreiner, a clear vision and adaptable mindset made all the difference. This captivating episode follows the path of a young French teacher who transitioned from being the quiet student in the back row to standing confidently at the front of the classroom. Maxime shares how his childhood dream of becoming a teacher evolv...

What does it take to transform a university assignment into a professional theater career? Mandy Thiery never imagined her required monologue for a Luxembourgish theater history course would launch her journey as a playwright. Yet that single assignment caught her professor's attention, leading to a professional reading and eventually her first commissioned play. Mandy takes us through her re...

What happens when life's journey takes unexpected turns? Louis Grün never planned to become a teacher. After graduating from high school in Luxembourg without a clear direction, he chose the University of Luxembourg's English program for its proximity and interdisciplinary approach, blending his passions for English literature and history. Louis's story takes flight during his manda...

Navigating educational and career paths rarely follows a straight line – something Mariana Mendes knows firsthand. After moving from Portugal to Luxembourg at age 11, Mariana developed adaptability skills that would serve her throughout life's unexpected turns. When she entered university, teaching wasn't her definitive goal; she simply followed her passion for English language and liter...

What happens when life derails your perfect plans? For Djuna Bernard, Luxembourg's youngest parliamentarian elected at age 26, the answer lies in embracing the unexpected. Djuna's political journey began with a teenage crush at an election party, where she met a boy in the Young Greens. While the relationship lasted only months, her political engagement endured, though she never imagined...

What happens when websites disappear? Ben Els, Digital Curator for the Luxembourg Web Archive, guides us through the fascinating and vital world of digital preservation. Contrary to popular belief, online information is highly vulnerable to being lost forever as websites change or vanish completely. "Information online is much more ephemeral, much more in danger of being lost," Ben expla...

Sofia Dos Santos never planned to become a teacher. Graduating with an economics diploma in 2014, she initially resisted attending the University of Luxembourg's Bachelor in European Cultures program. Yet that unexpected decision transformed her life, leading her to discover her true calling in teaching French literature and language. Sofia's captivating story reveals the beautiful inter...

What happens when life's unexpected turns lead to discovering your true calling? Gaël Arellano never planned to become a journalist. Growing up between Luxembourg and Chile with a grandfather who ran a radio station, journalism was in his blood—but not in his plans.  After leaving his political science studies in Brussels to care for his mother, Arellano's path took a decisive turn at th...

When Ricarda Leidinger attended a student fair in Saarbrücken a decade ago, she had no idea that chance encounter would shape her entire future. Uncertain about her path after high school, this German student from Saarland found herself drawn to the University of Luxembourg's Bachelor en Cultures Européennes , which perfectly combined her love of languages and humanities. Ricarda takes us thr...