My name is Tomas and I am from Czech Republic and I am in my 2nd year at LSE studying BSc Government & Economics.

I come from Prague, the Czech Republic, where I was brought up and studied up to a grammar school level. Aged 17, I came on a scholarship program to study in English school near London. I spent there two years, during which I completed my A-levels, living with a host family. Besides academics, I enjoy sports, particularly cycling and skiing. I was also a part of athletics team in Prague, competing on middle-distance running.

I always enjoyed learning about current affairs and putting them into some perspective. I also wanted to spend my degree by trying to better understand the world around us, and I think that my course serves this goal. Besides, the course combines my interests into mathematics on one hand, and humanities such as history and philosophy. As a result, Government and Economics is the best way of bringing my goal and interests together.

After spending a year at LSE, the spirit of the school and the amount of information available led me to search for job opportunities in banking. However I will be able to make a more informed decision after next year’s summer internship. In long term, I would also like to help my home country, and therefore I would consider going back home and work for government or different institution, which has an impact on the society.

Like Stelios, I also believe in importance of education, and widening the access to high quality education for those who could not afford it otherwise. Since I myself relied on support of many scholarships, I would like to engage in a similar activity like Stelios does. I would therefore like to either start my own program or work with charities to help students from my home region (e.g. Central and Eastern Europe to pursue their aim to study abroad.

I would like to ask Stelios what was his greatest challenge he had to overcome during his life or career.  I think Stelios should ask me if I would guide him through Prague, once he will come for a visit.