Seizing Opportunities to Make a Difference
Florence Lacrosse has been pursuing her environmental passions
Grad’17 alum Florence (Flo) Lacrosse was always ready to seize opportunities while at Bangkok Patana. Whether it was taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, acting as Senior Delegate, working on the Student Environmental Committee, or playing on the volleyball team among others, Florence threw herself into the Patana community wholeheartedly. She has taken this enthusiasm for joining and passion for community to her life after Bangkok Patana.
Flo, as she likes to be called, is a native of Belgium but spent 13 years at Bangkok Patana. She has taken the value of global citizenship to heart, having earned a BSc in Environmental Science and Climate Change at Leiden University College in the Netherlands. She is currently working on her masters in Marine Science and Society having also completed several different exchange programmes with the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.
“Some of my favourite things at Bangkok Patana were the many different opportunities presented to us, whether that was field trips, extra-currciculars, lunch-time clubs or Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. I have always loved jumping at every opportunity presented at me, whether that was joining a million clubs, sports teams and productions at Patana, or now volunteering to manage sport, conservation and environmental teams/offices. As a result, I’m lucky to have had even more great opportunities come my way… and I hardly ever say no.”
“Currently I am working as an intern at the Maritime Earth Observation. My current position was proposed to me the day I had to submit an internship for my MSc programme in Marine Science and Society at Université Côte d’Azur. I said yes and was working for them the very next week. I am working with the European Space Agency (ESA) to democratise access to EO products for environmental monitoring. I am looking forward to working as a marine consultancy intern, scuba-diving in Marine Protected Areas and artificial reefs to monitor the marine environment.”
“I continue to say yes to opportunities at work, whether that’s helping them care for their donkeys (I know, very random) or presenting as a key-note speaker at ESA’s annual conference.”
“My education and career goals make it clear that I enjoy spending time outdoors, going on adventures in the ocean or on land, playing various sports (hiking, snorkelling, kayaking, yoga, touch rugby, cycling etc) and my family Recently, I was selected to attend the IUCN World Conservation Congress as a “Young Champion” for nature conservation. Continuing to have a positive impact on people and the planet, and working outdoors are my long-term goals. “
