Josiane Chebl

If someone had told me a few years ago that my journey would take me from studying languages and translation to international relations and eventually to the world of diplomacy, I probably would not have imagined exactly how it would happen. Looking back today, however, I can see how every experience added another piece to the puzzle.

Before studying International Relations, I completed a BA in Translation and had the opportunity to work in the field, which I genuinely loved. Today, I speak five languages, and this background has shaped the way I communicate, connect with people and understand different cultures.

Over time, however, my curiosity started going beyond language itself. I wanted to understand what was happening behind the words exchanged between countries: Why do states take certain positions? What shapes foreign policy? How do history, security and national interests influence international relations?

That curiosity led me to pursue an MA in International Relations and Eastern Mediterranean Studies at the University of Nicosia. Coming from Lebanon, the focus on the Eastern Mediterranean felt particularly relevant to me. I grew up in a region where politics, conflict and international affairs are part of everyday reality, and I wanted to understand these dynamics from a deeper and more analytical perspective.

My studies changed the way I looked at world events. I learned not to stop at what happened, but to ask why it happened: Who are the actors involved? What are their interests? What brought us to this point, and what could happen next?

That way of thinking has stayed with me ever since. I especially enjoyed connecting what I was studying with real events happening around me. International relations became more than an academic subject; it became a different way of understanding the world.

After graduation, my professional journey also took a new direction. I moved from working in a company to an Embassy environment, bringing me closer to diplomacy and international affairs. Seeing subjects that I once studied become relevant to my professional life has been one of the most rewarding parts of that journey.

At the same time, I never left my background in languages behind. The two paths complement each other: languages taught me how to communicate across cultures, while international relations helped me understand the political, historical and strategic context behind that communication.

If there is one thing my journey has taught me, it is that your path does not have to be perfectly linear for it to make sense. You can love what you are doing and still discover another passion along the way. Changing direction does not mean starting again; sometimes it simply means building on everything you have already learned.

To someone considering International Relations, I would say: stay curious. Follow what is happening in the world, read different perspectives, ask questions and try to understand what lies behind political decisions. That is when what you study really starts to come alive.

Today, being part of the UNIC Alumni Community connects me to an important chapter of my journey. I started with a love for languages, discovered a passion for geopolitics and international relations, and eventually found a way for both worlds to become part of my professional life.

I am proud of where that journey has taken me so far-and excited to see where it takes me next.