Meet KdG’s first ever Seychellois student, Isa Gamatis-Henriette, who travelled almost 8000 km to study International Entrepreneurship at KdG.
In this article, you’ll read about:
- Isa’s motivation for studying abroad, and her decision-making.
- Her experience adjusting to a completely new environment.
- What she has learned along the way, and where she is now in her journey.
Isa, what inspired you to leave paradise and seek studies in Europe?
Despite the apparent benefits of living in the beautiful Seychelles, it had been my dream to go and study in Europe since I was 12 years old. So yes, this is actually a dream come true!
As a child I was very interested to read about the history and culture of Europe which is a whole other world, and so I always had an adventure in mind. Later I developed more specific interests which led me here to study international entrepreneurship.
So fast forward to Isa the high school student. How did you narrow down your study choice?
At high school I became interested in business and so by the time of studying for my IGCSEs, which are the high school exams we take, I knew I wanted to specialize in this. But on leaving school, rather than then immediately pursuing a university degree like many others did, I found I could do a diploma in Business Administration & Management at a local business school. And I wanted to explore this interest further whilst still at home. After all, the world of business is very broad. And in fact that decision and experience led me down the path of entrepreneurship.
Tell us more about that decision
In 2020 during the COVID pandemic I got to take part in a competition. It was organized by the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and it was to prompt students to think of ways to offer improvements within the school during the pandemic. My idea was to offer an App for students to support them with mental health – which of course was so important during that time due to the isolation we all faced. And guess what? I won😊 First prize for Post Secondary Category!
That really opened a door for me. I got quite some recognition and so I started to explore more entrepreneurial activities and I was naturally invited to more. I became a financial youth ambassador at the Central Bank of Seychelles, who ran an initiative to encourage more young people to show an interest in starting businesses through the aim of improving financial literacy amongst the youth of Seychelles.
Thanks to all the above, I even appeared in the local newspaper, was a guest on one of the local radio stations, K-radio, for International Women’s Day due to my (currently dormant) Instagram account on women empowerment (@hustlerdeluxe). And I appeared on national TV. A little bit of fame!
Before long I was attending networking events and mostof the time I was the youngest female there (I was 20 at this point) which gave me a sense of pride. A real confidence-booster. In 2021, I got my diploma with a distinction, so it was time for my next step. And that was still to go overseas and follow my dream.
So you thought: Now I can move to Belgium?
No! Belgium was not my first choice. I liked the idea of studying in France, partly because I always had a love for that destination, specifically the cote d’Azur. French is another of our national languages (as well as Seychellois Creole and English) although I’m not fluent. I began to take extra French language courses prior to the completion of my diploma but it soon became clear it was going to take too long to get up to the required level to study in France, and my English was already good enough. So an English-speaking degree it was. I also researched studying in Monaco because I had developed an interest in luxury brand management and there is a university there that offers a course in that. I got accepted into that particular school but…Monaco. It was too expensive, especially for my sponsor. Cost is a huge factor as an international student.
I started to look specifically for bachelor’s degrees in entrepreneurship and that’s when I came across KdG. The programme sounded like a good fit for me and English is widely spoken in Belgium, as well as French of course, so this seemed like a good option.
What about your family and friends. How did they influence your decision?
My parents were very supportive and in fact they were another motivating factor for me to study abroad as they both did the same, going to university in Australia. But most of my friends did not choose the European option. Most decided to go to Malaysia, which is a very common destination for further education if you come from Seychelles. In this way I was very much on my own looking to travel so far away.
Some of the people I spoke to at home found it difficult to understand why I would go all the way to Europe. Not everyone has such an open mind or adventurous spirit I guess. But my parents trust my passion and my vision so I was lucky to have their full support.
And so you did it. But how was that change at first, arriving in Europe?
I already had some idea of what to expect thanks to my boyfriend and his family, who lived in France, but for the first 3 months I was completely on my own. Thankfully he has since come to join me and has been my absolute rock, helping me through tough times by reminding me why I’m here and what my goals are.
Coming from a country where I’d never experienced colder than 16 degrees C (during a quick visit to Doha during January) and in Seychelles where central heating doesn’t even exist, the weather quickly became a shock to the system.
And then there was the pace of everything. I come from a quiet fishing village and suddenly I was in this busy fast-paced environment. That was pretty overwhelming. I was homesick at first but I have a good friend who lives in Switzerland and so regular video calls got me through those moments. There are other Seychellois people in Belgium too. I’m the only one at KdG but there are more of us here so I was able to join a group and keep in touch with them. I think that’s important when you move abroad. Of course you’re focused on meeting new people but homesickness and loneliness are a reality for anyone who’s left their country. And so it’s good to have your people to reach out to at times.
Tell us more about the culture shock. What have you had to adjust to?
As well as the weather and the pace of life, I suppose I’ve felt a bit more claustrophobic here. Coming from where I grew up, which was 5 minutes from the beach and where I was so often outside, to living in a small apartment has been a very obvious change. I also became aware quite quickly that life is more competitive in Europe. It’s only natural as there are so many more people but that feels maybe a bit more pressurizing. That said, I’m also developing because of that. I’m definitely keeping up!
Making genuine friendships and connections with people has been hard to do. This can be because of personalities but also differing cultures. I’ve often felt like I’m the one who has to take the initiative in conversations and in the beginning I’ve not found it easy to find a group of friends. I also miss the food from home. Good quality, good value fish! Octopus curry. Lobster. Passion fruit. And barbecues and cocktails of course. I do miss all that.
What about the positives? What pleasant surprises have you come across?
Just experiencing a different lifestyle is of course enriching. So far I’ve travelled around Belgium and to The Netherlands, France, and also to Switzerland. This has been a realization of my childhood dream. I’m getting to see Europe as I always wanted to, which is so different from home. Although meeting new friends has not been as easy as I thought, I have met many lovely people here at KdG.
Meeting new people wherever you go in life is part of how you grow, which I’ve also taken the initiative to do through my networking. It’s also been important for me to make good connections with the lecturers who have been really helpful. Ultimately, I remain focused on my career objectives.
How do you see yourself developing personally?
I’ve proven that I can be independent. I’ve learned to be resourceful and brave. I’ve also grown up in the sense that I see life is not to be played with. We have important decisions to make and that’s more apparent when away from home comforts.
I’ve been able to build on my networking skills that I started at home and I’m now regularly attending events here and making connections through LinkedIn. Who knows how this will help me in the future, but I see it’s important to make the most of my time here and give it my best. Not everyone is lucky enough to get the chance to do what I’m doing: to pursue their dream of studying overseas. It’s important not to take that for granted. I have taken a difficult option by coming this far but I’m proud of myself for doing that, and that pride spurs me on when at times things seem a bit tough. I know it will pay off.
Where are you at right now in your journey?
As a 2nd year International Entrepreneurship student, I’m nearing the end of my 9 week internship. I’ve been working as an Operations and Business Development Intern at Polestar in Brussels. Polestar is an automotive company specializing in electric vehicles. This has been a very rewarding experience where in a short time I’ve started to feel like an employee (not just an intern).
I’ve had a company mentor who has helped me learn more than I ever would just in a classroom, and I’ve been able to attend meetings and contribute.
I feel like things are falling into place in my studies. As long as you apply yourself, you do learn a lot in a relatively short space of time.
And what about your next steps? What important milestones do you have approaching?
Well I’m excited to say I’ll be travelling back home for a Summer holiday in June. So can’t wait for that! Next year is my final year at KdG and we have our graduation project which is our chance to shine and apply what we’ve learnt. We get the freedom to choose our subject and I’m planning to focus on something related to the Seychelles. With that in mind, I wish to tie in my passions and interests and bring a piece of home to KdG. I have always been very appreciative about learning and applying the European way of doing business. I feel it’s about time I offer my unique selling point: the ambitious island girl who can put her mind to anything, as long as it is in line with her vision and values. Remember, never sell yourself short!
I feel as well, that in line with that I do want to return home after graduation. I feel I have a lot to offer from what I’ve learnt and will continue to learn in the coming year. Who knows what will happen then. I will also choose to later study for a Master’s. But for now I have enough on my radar.
Isa, you’ve travelled a long way to study here. For other international students considering the same, what advice would you offer?
The hard truth is you will never be 100% ready but trust the process.
- Keep in mind that your 3 years here will be a journey and one that you will never forget. The one that will make your foundation so robust that once you step on that platform to collect your degree on graduation day, the world will be your oyster. The flexibility you can have with a degree like this - it's a golden ticket. You will have to make the degree work for you of course but it will allow you to enter into a vast range of industries or start your own business in whichever industry you desire.
- Additionally, networking is key! I cannot stress this enough. Even if you are naturally shy and more of an introvert, head out with a friend that feels more comfortable in engaging with others and learn from that experience. Ask questions! Personally, I love seeking these opportunities due to my charismatic and bubbly personality. But I’ve also witnessed less outgoing people break out of their comfort zone and start to see the benefits. But make sure you go knocking on the door of opportunity!
Together with having faith, hard work and patience, the tables will turn and you will have opportunities knocking at your door.
"Your 3 years here will be a journey and one that you will never forget."
"I feel like things are falling into place in my studies. As long as you apply yourself, you do learn a lot in a relatively short space of time."
"I see it’s important to make the most of my time here and give it my best. Not everyone is lucky enough to get the chance to do what I’m doing: to pursue their dream of studying overseas."
Mahe, Seychelles
Marie Laure Beach
Isa in Belgium