Malika Mouflet

Class of 2010 alumna Malika Mouflet attended the Lycée Français de New York her entire academic life. Moving through the unique environments of Primaire and Secondaire and finally into Terminal, Malika flourished as a student and as a young person, earning an A+ average and developing the sense of responsibility toward herself and her community that makes Lycée leadership proud to consider her a citizen of the world. But until June 2010 being a student at the Lycée was the only world she had known. Then she went away to college – as do the vast majority of Lycée graduates – and the world as she had imagined it changed forever.

Malika is currently a freshman at Williams College located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The culture shock of leaving home for the first time may not be as dramatic for her as it has been for many of her former classmates who decided to attend universities in Europe and Canada, nonetheless potentially intimidating challenges remain. New academic and social structures must be navigated; new cultural norms – university campus life, to be exact – must be incorporated into Malika's everyday life. And of course there is all that responsibility. Malika is on her own now. Her schedule, her workload, her motivation all rests upon herself. This begs the question, what is it like for Malika?

I interviewed her via email to find out how this very recent Lycée alumni is handling life beyond the 505 East 75th Street.

You spent twelve years at the Lycée, practically your whole life. What has it been like settling into a totally foreign situation – school, region, people – for the first time ever? And what about home do you miss the most?

"In the United States, there is a much stronger culture of giving back to your school. I have great memories of my Lycée years and from those years I have kept close friendships. I graduated from the Lycée and went straight to University. I have a very strong relationship with my Alma Mater, Cornell and in my opinion students in the Unites States stay closer to their university, high school, even grammar school than students in Europe. There is a much stronger culture of giving back to your school in the United States; often because the student campus experience creates this loyalty and also because the schools have very strong development and alumni relations dept which are instrumental in maintaining that loyalty."

When you were a student at the Lycée what did you believe college life and work would be like?

"In high school I thought college was going to be very challenging in terms of managing my school work and social life. I was afraid that I was not going to be able to wake up in the mornings,that I would miss my classes, get horrible grades from tough college professors, and just be lost in general. I would be left alone to handle everything without my parents or teachers looking after me 24/7. College would be an opportunity for me to grow as a person and finally become an adult."

How does this belief differ from the realities you have discovered about college?

"Many of my beliefs of what college would be were wrong. I have learned to manage my life responsibly so far. Classes are going very well. What I find awesome about college is that you get to select courses that you are actually interested in, so you invest yourself more in your work. Professors are amazing people; they are always willing to help me out. There are also many resources on campus that are available to guide you through freshman year. If you ever feel lost or overwhelmed there will always be someone to support you."

What have been some of the challenges you encountered adapting to college life thus far?

"Some challenges I have encountered so far are keeping track of paper work, waking up on time for class and forgetting scheduled appointments."

How well did the Lycée prepare you for these challenges as well as for the next social and academic chapter of your life?

"I believe that the Lycée prepared me very well for college. During my formative years in the Lycée, in order to succeed there was no other option but to work very hard, be responsible and disciplined. Being a college student is all about time management and committing yourself to your work. I learned how to do both thanks to my many years as a student in the Lycée. Now, I am able to handle all the work that I have as a college student."

Have you decided on a Major yet? If yes, which one and why? If no, why not?

"I am not really sure about what I want to major in. In high school I told myself I would major in Political Science, but I have grown an interest in Sociology and Psychology as well. So, I will probably major in one of those three subjects."

What advice would you give to Lycée Class of 2011 students who may be going away to college?

"I would say try to find a college that is perfect for you, a place where you will be genuinely be happy. College is not about the name of the school you are attending, it's not about making it to an "Ivy League"; it's about finding a place where you will meet awesome people, engage in new activities, take courses you absolutely love and more generally a place where you will grow as a person."

 

> Back