The first time I left Brittany and my family was a few weeks ago, at the end of August, when I came to settle in Marseille to carry out my studies. I traveled to the Dordogne, where my grandfather lives, and we came together to Marseille a week before I returned to school. It helped me with the move and acclimatize more easily. We visited my neighborhood, explored the places, looked for the right stores to shop at.
In the summer, my mother and I searched through many roommate ads in Marseille. We managed to sign for the apartment that caught my attention the most, in 3my district, six minutes walk from the National School of Architecture (ENSA) where I began my studies. It’s perfect, I can wake up late before going to class! My roommate is 23 years old, I was a little scared before meeting her, but in the end things are going very well with her.
I pay 500 euros of rent with everything included and receive 90 euros of housing assistance from CAF [Caisse d’allocations familiales]. Unfortunately, I am not eligible to be a scholarship, I imagine my parents’ income is above the criteria. My father was a prison guard, he is now retired. My mother is a teacher. They both live in Plérin, in Côtes-d’Armor. They are separated, but I have always been in joint custody, even after reaching the age of majority. I have two older sisters and an older brother, they are financially independent.
Money will be my biggest question this year. My parents give me 200 euros each for the rent and I pay the rest. We requested a loan from the bank, it is 20,000 euros for my five years of studies, but I wouldn’t want to touch it as a last resort. Before arriving in Marseille, I worked for a year at McDonald’s, in parallel with my professional baccalaureate in building studies, architect assistant option, in Brest. Thanks to that I was able to buy a computer and keep 6,000 euros in my account. For now, I live with this money I have saved.
“I’m learning life on my own and I’m doing pretty well”
In the vocational baccalaureate, thanks to my main teacher, I was able to do an “equal opportunities” internship at ENSA in Toulouse. We spent a week at school and that solidified my decision to become an architect. After university, I did a masonry CAP for the first time in Redon (Ille-et-Vilaine) and I told myself that I could try to go further. 2% of us must have a professional baccalaureate to be admitted to ENSA! At first I wasn’t very reassured but I have already done several internships in architecture studios or in the construction sector, so I have almost more experience than other students. I have always had difficulties in mathematics and English, but that comes from me and I will continue like this.
You have 52.11% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
