From economics to education: finding your true calling

Sofia Dos Santos never planned to become a teacher. Graduating with an economics diploma in 2014, she initially resisted attending the University of Luxembourg's Bachelor in European Cultures program. Yet that unexpected decision transformed her life, leading her to discover her true calling in teaching French literature and language.

Sofia's captivating story reveals the beautiful intersection between personal passion and professional fulfillment. During our conversation, she candidly shares the challenges of transitioning from economics to French studies, where she initially felt disadvantaged compared to classmates from classical education backgrounds. Yet her deep love for the French language—rooted in her immigrant heritage—carried her through difficult moments and blossomed into genuine academic passion.

What makes Sofia's journey particularly compelling is her successful navigation of Luxembourg's notoriously competitive teaching examination system. The "concours" sees hundreds of candidates competing for just a handful of permanent positions, yet Sofia passed on her first attempt—an achievement she attributes to excellent university preparation. Her insights into this high-pressure process provide valuable guidance for aspiring educators.

Whether you're considering a teaching career, curious about University of Luxembourg programs, or simply appreciate stories of people finding their unexpected calling, Sofia's journey will inspire you to remain open to life's surprising paths. Subscribe to Alumni Stories for more conversations with graduates who are making meaningful contributions to education and beyond!

Interested in signing up for the Bachelor en Cultures Européennes?

Visit the website : bce.uni.lu

If you have any specific questions regarding this Bachelor, please contact: bce.office@uni.lu

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Transcript

Welcome to alumni stories

Masti 0:02

Hello and welcome to Alumni Stories, a podcast brought to you by the University of Luxembourg. I'm your host, Masti. Let me give you an idea of what Alumni Stories is all about. Whether you've studied here before, or you're curious and consider pursuing your studies at the University of Luxembourg, or just want to listen to interesting people, whatever it might be, you're at the right place. I know it sounds forward, but let me break it down for you. Every episode will star a former student who finished your degrees and has set a foot into the working world, or, as I like to call it, the grown-up life. We'll get a glimpse of each individual their personal ups and downs, their survival strategies, the recipe to balance uni and life, and much more. So if you're, like me, someone who's been looking for the right study program but hasn't been able to find the right fit yet, call this your lucky day, because this podcast is made for you. So, without any further ado, let's dive into today's episode.

Masti 1:03

Today's guest is a young and inspiring woman. She played an important role in our society by shaping children's future. Born and raised in the south of Luxembourg, and graduating school in 2014, she started pursuing the University of Luxembourg, although it wasn't her first choice. Handling ever-changing classes of adolescence makes her resilient and may have led to her life's motto "do good, and good will come to you. In this episode, she'll tell us how a path you don't envision at first can lead you to the right place, her impressions on teaching and how to successfully pass the frightening concours. Please welcome Sofia Dos Santos.

Masti 1:51

Hi Sofia, thank you for being here!

Sofia 1:52

Thank you for inviting me.

Masti 1:53

I want you to tell us a little bit about yourself, maybe tell us about what you do at the moment, things you like, your graduation, just the general things.

Sofia 2:01

I graduated here in Luxembourg in 2014. Then, I went to university, did my bachelor in the BCE, did also my master's in French language literature. I wasn't sure about it but it was something in my head or an ambition, I don't know. It was just a calling, I think that called me and said in my head you are meant for this. And then, the rest is history. I started in Luxembourg City in the Lycée des Arts et Métiers, did my concours, passed it. I worked then as a trainee for two years in the same high school. It was during the pandemic so it was quite an interesting experience, I'd say. Then, I passed as a trainee and I've been working in the Lycée Technique de Lallange in Esch, in the south of Luxembourg. I love it, it's truly my life calling. I am very, very happy that I decided to go on this path.

Finding your true calling

Masti 3:18

How does that happen? You you said the university wasn't the first choice. I'm wondering how do you find out about the life calling when you don't even want to go to the university? So how did you end up picking this university?

Sofia 3:35

ou to to and study in France and I When I with a diploma in economics, so it wasn't at all something I envisioned for myself. I was quite interesting interested accounting and economics. economics, loved it during my studies. And then I said to myself oh, know what? And don't see myself sitting in a desk working on 824 8 to 4 825. 8 to 5 It wasn't for me and it is something challenging. I love the French language. I grew up with the French language. My parents are both immigrants and it was the first language, with Portuguese, that I grew up with and I loved it. I loved reading books, I loved watching films in French, I loved the series, I loved everything. Maybe it was also from a teacher, I really don't remember, but I loved the French language. And then, I decided to myself let's try it, it's in Luxembourg, I have nothing to lose. My parents encouraged me saying, "you'll love it, it's your, it's your calling my. My mom said always you would be such a perfect teacher, but for the little ones. And I said no, no, no, no; I'd prefer teenagers, because kids are a little too much for me. And I decided it for myself and I didn't want to waste time doing a bachelor's in France, wasting money, wasting accommodation. It wasn't really for me; the first couple of weeks, it was tough!

Masti 5:30

What exactly was tough?

Sofia 5:33

The other students came from a classic A so they knew all about the classics, the literature.

Masti 5:41

So we're talking about you starting here at the uni, right?

Sofia 5:44

Yeah, it was really tough and I said to myself maybe it wasn't such a smart decision. And then, I was really into it, I loved it. The analysis, the language, the classics, discovering such a wide culture. I fell in love with it.

Masti 6:06

Studying French here at the uni, in the BCE first, I'm wondering how you picked the BCE specifically? Because you can do so many different things with it. Did you know at first that you wanted to become a teacher? Was it the first thought?

Sofia 6:32

hesitated with the European Governance program I believe, but I preferred going for the BCE in French, I loved it. And then, when I started the BCE, there was no master's degree here in a program. It came when I was in the third year of the BCE.

Masti 6:55

Now I have to maybe rethink, when exactly did you start the BCE program here?

Sofia 7:01

In 2014.

Masti 7:03

Oh, okay, so it's not that long ago actually.

Sofia 7:05

No.

Masti 7:06

There was no masters, this uni is very developing quickly.

Sofia 7:09

Yeah and there was no medicine, so the uni really developed in the last years.

Masti 7:19

So you talked about a calling, a natural calling. Did that happen after you started the BCE in French? How did you come up with the idea of teaching?

Sofia 7:31

The idea of teaching itself came when I was in the last year of high school. Before graduating, I really didn't know what I was going to do with my life. I wasn't really encouraged by some teachers. I'm very vocal about it and I'm working really hard to not be like those teachers. When I decided it, I think it was in the last two weeks before graduation, before the exams. I decided I'm going to study French, I love it, why not?

The challenges of teaching

Sofia 8:15

And then, when I started BCE, it was hard at the beginning. But then, I said to myself you're meant to be studying this, you love it, you have fun. I had really great friends also during the program. I loved it. And I decided also to pursue the master's degree here in Luxembourg, even though I applied to other universities. But I said to myself this master's degree is going to prepare you for the job you want to do for 40, 45 years, so why not try it here?

Masti 8:52

What kind of master's did you do?

Sofia 8:54

In Enseignement Secondaire.

Masti 8:55

Okay, makes sense. See something you mentioned reminds me immediately of challenges, which is something that the BCE also mentions in their programs a lot. At first, it was hard starting the BCE because you said there were a lot of different students who were more familiar with the program itself. And you just love the language, so do y ou think that loving something could lead to being good at something?

Sofia 9:31

You can have a passion for the subject. There are a lot of teachers that are really strong at the subject they teach, but they are really bad teachers. You have to also have other qualities, such as empathy. You have to be able to understand the public, the people that are in front of you, even when you're having a bad day. You will have those in your job, in your everyday life. You have to say to yourself those 30 teenagers, they are not guilty, they didn't do anything to you. So you really have to ground yourself and yourself, yourself your anger. You will be angry. There will be students that will test your limits. You will tell them to shut up sometimes, but you really have to ground yourself and be empathetic. There are teenagers, there are children for. some I think the youngest student I had was 11 12, they are also experiencing life for the first time. It's hard for them. They are hormonal at 15, 16. And yeah, you have to have a lot of human qualities to be a good teacher. Even when you are perfect at teaching a subject, you're strong with your subject, if you lack human interaction skills or human social skills, you will have a problem.

Masti 11:22

You r mother gave you a really good tip because just by you saying all of that, I think you absolutely do a great teacher. And what I liked is the moment you mentioned that, even two weeks prior to you graduating, you really didn't know what to do. You were like I'm lost, where do I go? But you still ended up at this position as a teacher. I think this is a moment where you can be proud of yourself, of course. And, all the way there, how does one become a teacher here, specifically? I've heard the word concours, which is a huge part of becoming a teacher. Can you maybe explain a little bit what that is?

Sofia 12:11

The concours is like a few exams for your subject, it's dissertation, it's grammar. You have to be able to translate a text from one language to your subject. I had to translate a German text to a French text without trying to change the context and the tenses and so on. Then you have text analysis. It's really stressful. But you don't necessarily have to pass the concours to become a teacher, you have the choice on being also an "employé. They make the same "stage, so they are trainees as also the fonctionnaire. The fonctionnaire are those that pass the concours. It's just a status thing because the stage is really the same courses, the same exam. Everything is the same.

Masti 13:12

From what I've heard, people are very afraid of the concours in general. They say it's a lot of participants and there's so much competitive things going on there; but you seem very calm when you talk about it. So, is it really that stressful?

Sofia 13:26

I'm calm six years after. It was really, really stressful. I passed it at first, I did it one time and passed it -

Masti 13:39

Which is not so common. I think a lot of people had to retake it too.

Sofia 13:43

Yeah, I think. But a lot of people that are prepared can pass it also at the first time.

Masti 13:50

Would you say that the BCE prepared you for the concours?

Sofia 13:55

Yes, but I'd say it's more the master's program that prepares you specifically for the concours because all your courses in the master's program are the exams in the concours. It was perfect. So the first meeting for the concours, they explained it and I was like, "oh, that sounds familiar, that struggle. It was stressful because you see a lot of people. I think we were over 100. And then you see, it's a really big room in one of the high schools. It was at in Mayrisch, it's in Luxembourg city, and you see so many people. There are just 30 places to teach next year, so I thought this is going to be a struggle to be the 30 best of the country.

Navigating the concours

Sofia 14:58

But then the first exam was traumatizing, I was really, really stressed. And then, for the second one, there were a lot less participants. There were three written exams and one oral exam and with the time you saw that participants were just quitting. It was too much. Some said, "I'm not even trying the other ones, there's no value in it. And so, when you see it, you're so overwhelmed with everything and it's quite competitive because, for the first meeting, they tell you for next school year there will be 33 places. For example, there are 200 people participating in the concours for French, for example, and so you have to pass it, that's the first thing. And then you have to be in the best of the country, so it's quite stressful.

Masti 16:11

Yes, I can imagine that.

Sofia 16:19

If you pass it the first time, you're chill with it; but if you have to redo it twice, a third time, a fourth time, a sixth time, no one will judge you.

Masti 16:32

I think it's good to say that, sometimes, it needs more than one take to get somewhere. It's totally fine to do that. It's like you starting in a finance direction and then saying that you actually want to do something with the French literature and want to become a teacher - that you called your natural calling. Would you say that you really unfold your potential here, in this current job you're in?

Sofia 17:00

I think. As I said previously, when I was in school, I had really great teachers like my French teacher, my German teachers. They were phenomenal, I loved how they teach themselves. And then there were teachers that I absolutely loathed. I hated to go to school and I was even sick to go to school some days, so I had to tell my mom I'm not feeling good, I don't want to go to school. As a child, I loathed school but I made it my career.

Sofia 17:45

I was so inspired to work with other people. I'm quite a social butterfly in the right conditions and I'm quite an introvert at the same time, so it's quite a challenge. But when I'm in a classroom, my true personality comes out. I'm really happy, I'm not stressed to be in front of 24 people, students of all ages. I don't care if they're 11, 12 or 20, 23. I had students that were 39 and I was 24. It wasn't even awkward for me, I was always so relaxed in front of my classes.

Sofia 18:34

love teaching because we don't necessarily teach only the language. We do debates, we talk about what's going on in the world. And it's interesting to have a student that is so close-minded in September, when the school year starts, and then they are developing. They are like a little flower opening. It's so cool to see how they are thinking for themselves, become critical thinkers and reacting to politics, what's going on in the world, elections. When there were elections, they say, "miss, miss did you see? Did you see? Oh, this program and this program, this candidate, this candidate. Oh, did you see this? Oh, this has a consequence on that". It's such a reward, also as a teacher, to see that you're having an impact on young minds.

Masti 19:40

Would you say the BCE helped you in the way you perform in the classroom, in the way you teach people?

Sofia 19:50

he say so because we were not only French students from the BCE but we were with Math students, with German, History, Geography, Philosophy... so we were all together sometimes. And then, we were forced - and it was also a challenge - to make up points with other students because we saw something but they interpreted something else, so it was quite challenging sometimes to get your point across. It was also very interesting because you will do the same thing in class. You, as a teacher, you have your values, you have your morals, you have your political views. You're not allowed to share them but students can sense them. It's quite human.

University life and erasmus experience

Sofia 20:50

And then, you will also be working with other teachers. As a French teacher, I speak a lot with my German colleagues, also with math teachers, economics teachers. So we discuss challenges we encounter "how will you pass this point across? Um, I have this student or this? Um challenge, how would you solve it?". I think it's very interesting because the everyone's studies and everyone's backgrounds can help you overcome challenges. Also, I think during the studies here at the University of Luxembourg, you're allowed to be yourself, to express yourself, but you are also challenged to think outside of the box.

Masti 21:36

I think there are a lot of similarities between this classroom during the BCE studies and the way you talk to other teachers, you have that exchange all the time with different topics, subjects and the teachers. So I think becoming a teacher makes sense. I think more than 30% of the people that start at BCE actually become a teacher because it kind of leads you into that way. But you also said that the master's degree really prepared you for your position. Where are the similarities with the master and your current position as a teacher?

Sofia 22:23

I think it's more the subjects. The master's program really prepares you for the concours and you're really focused on this. I believe everything you do in the master's program, it will come eventually as a subject matter in your teaching. For example, in French grammar you have the discours rapporté, direct and indirect speech; and when I was preparing it for the first time a few years back, I said to myself "how did I study it at the university?". And it's quite interesting because you will draw parallels between how you studied it, how you acquired it and then, how you teach it. If you understood it that well, you can make the same parallels. I also use the same names that my teachers for the examples. I use the same names of the subjects still today, six years later, it's Max and Fred. It's quite interesting. And my students also ask me "who is Max and Fred? I don't know, I have no idea who these people are.

Masti 23:53

This whole process you learn while graduating - it could be the bachelor, the master, even in school - it's interesting to see that all of it is l ike a circle. It just comes back when you become a teacher and question yourself saying how did I receive it the best way and this is the way I could maybe apply it onto my students here. You also stayed here at the uni, which also makes a little circle where you started a bachelor, you did the master's. How was it to continuously stay here and how was your everyday life here too?

Sofia 24:32

I really experienced the birth of the university, here in the new campus. It was quite interesting. It was two worlds colliding. And then, you have the campus in Walferdange where we have our trainees, who go there to the courses, so the circle is also circling. And I was quite happy I'd say, here in Luxembourg. I had my friends, my social life.

Masti 25:07

Because you grew up here, like you said, you had your social contacts already, you knew people here. How would you give advice to somebody who comes here for the first time and wants to integrate themselves? Because I feel like, here, students have friendships that are already bond prior to studying sometimes. So, how would you help somebody out that is starting here as a new lead, never being here before?

Sofia 25:36

Just talk to people, just talk. I was new here in the university. I think I just knew one person; and then I just started to talk to people, saying where are you from, what did you study, what are you aiming for, what do you want to do later out of your life, etc. I just started talking to people and invite them to grab a coffee. You have so many coffee places here, in Belval. Also, it's such a cool little campus, so just talk to people, to different people. You don't have to be best friends, but just to have your connections. If there are events at the university, just participate in them. It won't harm you.

Masti 26:37

Were you able to participate on events or maybe grab a coffee with friends you made in the uni, even though you were still studying and struggling with stress maybe and all exams and everything? Where did you find the balance?

Sofia 26:51

Even in Walf erdange the campus was big. Not as big as this one, but we had one or two coffee places and one restaurant and we said, "you know what, just to know each other, let's just grab a bite. Oh, let's just grab a coffee. Oh's just grab a coffee. Oh, do you want to go outside? Should we study together?" Etc. And here in, uh, in Belleville, same thing. When I started my master's, I didn't know anyone, I believe.

Masti 27:28

You had to restart everything again.

Sofia 27:30

Oh no, I'm lying - I knew one person or two. I don't remember.

Masti 27:37

We don't count them.

Sofia 27:38

But I just started to talk with people and then they became even very good friends. We still talk sometimes. We stayed at the library, in the learning hub at the first floor in the Maison du Savoir, just to study, to exchange notes, exchange experiences, like "How did you understand this thing? I didn't get the subject. Could you explain it to me in your words? And you start to bond. And in the master's, we were like 11 or 12 students, so we were a very little class. We were in the same boat, the same experiences, the same goals in life maybe, so we just started talking.

Masti 28:26

And you're still in contact with them, even now?

Sofia 28:29

With two people.

Masti 28:31

Then, did you also go outside of this Luxembourgish bubble? Did you maybe see the world in a different way, did some exchange somehow?

Sofia 28:39

Yeah, I did the Erasmus in France and let me tell you we have all the luxuries here in Luxembourg. The campuses in France are not the same, the classrooms are tiny. The conditions are not the same. We are very lucky, very spoiled even, with the great classrooms here in Luxembourg, at the university. Also, the teachers are quite different, they are less personal in France and here, when you want to talk to your teachers, they'll stay after class to talk to you. And they knew me by name here in Luxembourg, even when they didn't teach for two years, and they say "oh, sophia, how are you, how are your studies going?" And then in France, even after six months, they point you by finger because they don't know your name. So it's quite different.

Sofia 29:49

And even the students, I believe it's like this "clique" mentality. I don't know how to explain it but they have their circle of friends, and they stay that way. And I experienced also "oh, you're Luxembourgish, what are you doing here? Go back, you're rich, like the stereotypes. I was like girl, I'm just starting, I'm just doing my Erasmus, just leave me in peace.

Masti 30:18

But how do you cope with that?

Sofia 30:20

I just ignore them. I don't have time for that.

Masti 30:25

I wish all people could think that way, really. But being thrown into a new city, even if it's not that far away, and still having that feeling that here they have their own friends and they don't want me to really be part of it, I think that could maybe have some effects on you also while being in your Erasmus outside of Luxembourg.

Sofia 30:46

There were two or three girls that they were so cool, really, really friendly. They talked to us because we were four students from the University of Luxembourg that did the exchange. And the rest, they had their friend groups. I get it, they are formed, it was the third year; so they were friends for three years. It's normal, but I just have a problem with all the stereotypes because we're all students. We are all in the same boat, we all have the same challenges. So, if people are going through it also in Luxembourg, talk to the people; but if they don't want to talk to you and include you in their conversations and their friend groups, just go to another person. Don't get stuck on people that are bad for you, for your mental health. Just protect yourself.

Masti 31:50

Have you ever witnessed something that is similar to that happening in your classroom? Do you invade as a teacher?

Values in education and teaching

Sofia 31:57

Sometimes, if I see that a student isn't getting included, I will talk to the whole class and say, "what values do you cherish? And everyone says "respect, empathy, respect for others, inclusion. And I say, do you believe you're doing it with all your classmates? And then they say, oh, no, and why is that?" And so, and you, you can include it your in your subject, in class subject, but I think it's really important as a teacher that you take time to talk to your class, to your students individually or as a group. They see you almost every day. You have such a diversity of people in the same classroom. I think it's so cool, it's so unique to Luxembourg, I believe. Every language, nationality, background. Why not take time to include these students?

Masti 33:23

See, I think Erasmus might have been hard in that sense, that you weren't able to fit in directly, but then you can take that and so beautifully put it into your teaching too. Do you think that these values are also taught throughout your bachelor's or master's degrees?

Sofia 33:44

I believe so. You are encouraged to collaborate, to be empathetic towards other people, even in university. There are so many people from different backgrounds. They have their own struggles, they have their own experiences. I had really many difficulties or struggles in my life, so I think it's such a privilege to be empathetic, respectful. These were also core values I was taught as a child, as a student, and as a person. I think that's very important. It's quite a problem if you lack these basic human values and you decide to become a teacher. You will have a very bad time.

Masti 34:47

Are there some specific professors that maybe shaped you? That, when you're teaching, it reminds you of the way they taught you something.

Sofia 34:56

Yeah, there are a lot of them. Miss Freyermuth, she is a sweetheart. She was also so patient, also teaching it with such a calm voice, very including. I also had Tonia Raus and I'm still working with her. It's such a cool experience to witness her as a teacher and then as a colleague. We've been working on projects for three years.

Masti 35:33

What kind of projects?

Sofia 35:34

It's for the Ministère, we have been doing the program for the graduating classes this year and we have been collaborating with another group. It's such a cool experience to have also other teachers, their experiences, and then you have her. She was my teacher and it's such a cool interaction between an ex-student and an ex-teacher, and now collaborating as colleagues. All the different talks, points of views, opinions, I think it's quite interesting.

Masti 36:16

Looking back, you can definitely look at it positively.

Sofia 36:20

Yeah, definitely.

Masti 36:22

That's very good. Is there something a teacher gave you along the way, or the BCE or maybe the master program, something that sticks with you until this very day that you think of? It could be a saying, a class?

Sofia 36:41

I don't have a specific idea, but I have a few impressions of a few teachers that really stuck with me, and also their kindness, their openness. Their teaching was so inspiring to me, so interesting. We had really cool teachers, the calm ones that knew their subject, and then we have the dramatic ones that fell to the floor imitating Phèdre in the classroom. It was so interesting, we had really the two dynamics and I think it's such a cool experience. Also, as a teacher, you have to be the calm teacher, the wise teacher, but you have also to be the fun teacher sometimes. It has so many results and it's so rewarding, also as a teacher, to see how children are evolving to teenagers, and from teenagers to young adults. So, if you are lucky, you will see a pupil from a child of 11, 12, and then see them at graduation at 18, 19. It's such a cool experience.

Sofia 37:58

I witnessed it and it's so cool when they write to you on social media or an email saying "how are you just to let you know I graduated and they sent you selfies of them, of the whole class. It's so heartwarming. I felt the same thing when I was a student, to see the proud looks of our teachers when I announced to them I wrote the concours, I passed it. And they were like, "it's so cool". So yeah, I think what we see in our teachers, we want to see in our students also later in the job. I think it's so rewarding.

Advice for future educators

Masti 38:43

I'm asking for one last thing here. Is there something you would advise to future students who are listening and are interested to experience the same things you just mentioned, who are resonating? What would you advise them?

Sofia 39:04

Be yourself. I think when you do too much and if you fake it, students will see it and they will feel it. So be true to your values, to yourself, to your core beliefs, and be kind, open. And also, if you're stressed - you will be stressed - just take one step at a time and say to yourself what is the big picture? Even if there are struggles in your way, always envision the big picture. What is your end goal? It is really important to have the big picture in front of you, so that you don't stumble on the little struggles in your way. As a teacher, it's really important that students can relate to you. Be personal. Sometimes I'm very open with my students and said, yeah, I graduated also from a general so a technique, and I also managed to be a teacher. And the look on their face is like, oh she did the same studies as us, she's loving it, she loves her job and so why not for me? So, be your authentic self, I believe.

Masti 40:30

I hope you enjoyed this episode of Alumni Stories. If you want to get in touch with our guests, are interested in applying or need more details about the Bachelor of European Culture study program here at the University of Luxembourg, check out the description of today's episode, where I've added all the information you'll need. That's all for now, but we'll be back soon, and I hope you will be too Maybe even soon on campus.