Lucia Kobzova

The words I thought I would never say are becoming reality. I am leaving Slovakia. When I returned from Paris at the end of 2024, I could not imagine living abroad again. I deeply believed that my place was here. That despite everything, Slovakia was where my energy, skills, and hope belonged. I am now leaving for six months to zoom out and regain clarity. I would love to say that I am coming back immediately after. But if I am honest, I don’t think I am. And that realization hurts more than...

A speech by my 19-year-old self to my classmates. Today, I’d like to share the story of how I started with public speaking and why I am standing here before you. Let’s go back five years – to the time when it all began. Back then, I would have described myself as a shy introvert who struggled to say anything in public. But I found myself in a group of people who worked with youth, and that’s how I became an animator – a youth leader. Since being an animator means staying in touch with...

Few days ago, I walked through the gates of Sciences Po for the very last time. It feels strange, but I don’t feel sad—rather, an enormous weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I’m leaving physically drained, mentally exhausted, and deeply disappointed on a human level. It wasn’t exactly the happiest period of my life. Prestige comes at a price, and sometimes it’s far too high. Throughout my time here, I kept hearing the same well-meant phrases: "You can do this—you’re more than capable."...