Carla Tejuca

As a deeply artistic person, Carla's love for acting and music paved the way for her to be part of several big shows. The experience and everything she's been through shaped her into who she is today and motivated her to start her Bachelor in International Relations at IE University.

In her opinion, this program is the next right step in her career path, as it allows her to understand the politics, economics and cultures influencing international affairs. It also allows her to investigate critical issues, such as diplomacy, global security and human rights, giving her the firsthand experience she needs to be impactful.

"I’ve always been a passionate activist, deeply committed to making the world a better place," she says. "The Bachelor in International Relations gives me the tools to turn that passion into action, granting me the skills to tackle global challenges and create real change through cooperation and policy-making."

Carla touches on some elements of the program she enjoys most, particularly its cultural richness and ability to connect students from different parts of the world. Her class alone has more than 25 nationalities represented, which helps students gain unique insight into current international affairs. It also provides an in-depth analysis of the problems facing each country from different perspectives.

As she forges ahead in her studies, Carla aims to develop skills such as communication, critical thinking, leadership, conflict resolution and cultural awareness. She’s also excited to improve her networking abilities and connect with peers and professionals globally. This skill set will not only ensure her success in international relations, but it will also help her navigate the complex challenges she’ll face in her career. "Anyone who possesses these skills will have a better chance of making an impact on the world and its future."

So far, Carla says she’s enjoyed her Political Theory course the most. That's because her professor, Oscar Martinez Tapia, uses examples from real-life situations to make his lectures engaging. He creates a collaborative environment where students actively participate in every class. She also enjoys taking International Relations Theory. Even though most students see it as a tough course, Carla is eager to understand the core reasoning and patterns behind international affairs.

She’s also enriching her degree in other ways. It’s recommended that every student studying international relations take a language class every year. But Carla's desire to learn French never seemed feasible until she joined IE University. The pace at which she’s mastering the language seems faster than she ever imagined.

Outside the classroom, Carla immersed herself in the IE Debate Club. Besides gaining valuable skills like public speaking, active listening, teamwork and collaboration, she helps train other students to excel in the same. Students can earn a certificate and participate in events that prepare them to stand out in their future careers.

For Carla, one of her best experiences in the Club was taking part in the prestigious Warsaw Negotiation Round competition. Carla and her partner faced highly skilled opponents in two challenging rounds, challenging them to "think strategically and adapt quickly under pressure." The adjudicator's feedback was also helpful; it gave Carla new insights into handling high-stakes conversations more effectively.

Her desire to gain practical skills doesn't just stop in her extracurriculars, though. Recently, Carla joined the IE Social Impact Lab, a hands-on, internship-like experience designed to help build her professional profile and provide her with real insight into the social development sector. Through the Lab, she’s working closely with an NGO to build a social welfare system for people undergoing palliative care.

In addition to her training, Carla has direct contact with top decision-makers at the organization, which extends her professional network. She’s also learning practical lessons, such as research and analysis, event organization and marketing strategies, which will serve her throughout her career.

Reflecting on the learning environment, faculty, multicultural peers, extracurricular opportunities and everything in between, Carla concludes that the IE Experience has been a "game-changer" for her professional path. She’s excited to see what she’ll learn next.