I’m Anna Pelliet, I’m 26 years old. I moved to China when I was 7, and I spent a large part of my education at the Shanghai French School. After LFS, I went on to study in the UK.

I enrolled at UCL (University College London) for a bachelor’s called “Human Sciences”, which is mainly focused on biology. It’s a really interesting program because it gives you a solid foundation in science (biology, anatomy, and anthropology), but you can also choose your own specializations. I’m a naturally curious person, so this was perfect for me—I was able to keep a strong focus on science while adding social science elements. In my second and third years, I specialized in neuroscience, taking an evolutionary approach, with courses in neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and bioethics, which brought me closer to the medical field.

After UCL, during the Covid pandemic, I worked in a Paris hospital supporting the Covid response and interned at a medical tech company. That’s when I realized I really wanted to be more involved in the medical field. So, I applied for a master’s in clinical neuroscience at Oxford, focusing on research in neurodegenerative diseases. I loved it because I got to work with patients, especially in research on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

Thanks to my research background, I was able to join the four-year medicine program at Cambridge, which is called “Graduate Medicine.” It’s designed for people who already have a degree and some clinical experience. The program is pretty intense because you do a lot of patient internships alongside the usual theoretical content, which helps you develop your skills quickly. I’ve just finished my first year, and in three years, I’ll be working as a junior doctor!

I really loved my years at LFS. I have great memories of extracurricular activities, especially swimming. I competed in a lot of inter-school competitions, which helped me meet students from Hong Kong, Singapore, and other places. I also did other sports like dancing and tennis, and I got involved in Model United Nations (MUN) from middle school. That was really enriching and gave me a sense of responsibility. In high school, we went on a MUN trip to Singapore, where I learned to debate in English and gained a better understanding of global issues.

First, I’d say a sense of curiosity. The teachers encouraged us to get involved in all sorts of projects. I already loved biology, and my teachers pushed me to compete in Asian science competitions, which was amazing. Second, the international environment really helped—it made me feel comfortable going to study in the UK, having been surrounded by teachers from New Zealand, Australia, the UK, and other countries. And, of course, the academic level was excellent—today I see my former classmates from Shanghai studying all over the world, doing incredible things, and it’s really thanks to LFS.

Right now, I’m interested in a lot of areas, like neurology and gynecology, but what really excites me is combining medical and surgical work—and maybe even working in public health. My interests are still evolving because I’m a curious person, and at Cambridge, we’re encouraged to explore a wide range of things, which I love!