Amelia Irion '89: on Cultures

VP Human Resources, Colas Group
Paris, France

For me Sacred Heart opened minds and opened doors. I was particularly influenced by learning French at a very young age and really fell in love with the language and the culture.

For me learning other languages and cultures means making connections and opening horizons. I loved that my school was part of something bigger within the global network of Sacred Heart schools.

I remember when I signed up to host a Sacred Heart student coming to New Orleans from our sister school in Bordeaux, France. We had to work hard to understand each other but it was a wonderful experience and I created a lifelong friend (we are still in touch!).

I specifically chose a college with a strong study abroad program in France and after that went on to do a Fulbright scholarship and a Masters degree in France. I subsequently embarked on an international career, have learned a couple more languages, and have lived and traveled in many countries.

Today I live and work in Paris with my family.