I am 24 years old from London, England. My academic background is based in Psychology, and my interest in the field of development first came from my undergraduate dissertation, in which I studied the effects of racial prejudices on the developing Black middle class in South Africa. Since my degree I have lived and worked in various developing countries, mainly in a teaching capacity, as well as some development work, particularly in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake. I think the MESCI course will be crucial in helping advance my understanding of challenges faced by the developing economies of the world, as well as facilitating the development of the practical and quantitative skills needed to tackle them. I am also thoroughly excited about the diverse, international nature of the student body, and think it’s a fantastic opportunity to learn about international development from a truly global perspective.