Alumni Spotlight: Class of 2017 Graduate Samaya Prakke

1) Hi Samaya, can you tell us what you’ve been up to since graduating in 2017? 

It’s strange to think that I’ve been away from TGS for three years already. After moving around so much with TGS it did take a bit of adjusting to settle into one place, but I’ve now made London a home. I’m in the final year of my undergraduate law degree at King’s College London which has meant a majority of my time should have been spent at the library, but in reality I spent it rowing for my university, exploring London while meeting new people, and trying to navigate living independently in a big city.  I have also undertaken work experience such as at the Supreme Court in Bhutan and an NGO in London.

2) So it appears that you are the first TGS alum to pursue a law degree. Could you share what led you down that path, and what you hope to accomplish with it? 

I’d considered studying law for a while and this was definitely supported by experiences at TGS such as talks with a NATO brigadier when living in Bosnia. I was interested in understanding more about institutions used to govern behaviour on an international scale and knew that studying law would be a good foundation for it. Admittedly, since coming to university I’ve surprised myself with what areas of law I’ve found interesting. I’m looking to pursue an LLM in International Business Law and this is still accompanied by the desire to want to positively contribute to whatever environment I end up working in. I hope to navigate the corporate world and work on an international scale with this in mind. 

3) What has been the most gratifying project you’ve worked on since graduating?

While working as a research consultant for Coram International, I got to help with the drafting of child protection regulations for Nigeria. Not only did I get to work with legal experts but it gave me real insight to the difficulties in setting and upholding legal standards that are viable on an international scale. Especially because I chose to gear my degree towards business law, being able to work within International Development work reminded me of the importance of legal infrastructure. 

Samaya rowing in London

4) Do you feel your experiences at THINK Global School prepared you for life post-graduation? 

I definitely think my time at TGS helped prepare me for the experiences that I’ve had after. Probably more than I’ve even realised, TGS taught me the importance of communication and perseverance in all types of situations. I might have traded a host family in Costa Rica that only spoke Spanish for brokers at the Lloyd’s of London that interact only in insurance contracts, but I’ve found that I’m not uncomfortable in either situation. Nor am I hesitant in asking questions or voicing my thoughts to get the most out of an experience. At university, I think TGS has helped make me a diligent student and I’m confident even in classes with a diverse group of people, each with an opinion louder than the last. I also have to note that as much as it seemed like a drag at the time, simple things that TGS expected us to do like laundry, groceries, cooking or budget tracking have come in useful. I’ve seen someone at university try to toast a bagel in a microwave. 

5)  Now that you’ve had a couple of years to reflect, is there a particular experience at TGS that you look back on most fondly? 

I wouldn’t say there is necessarily a single experience that stands out so much as the type of experience at TGS and the community. As much as I love living in a city, I find myself thinking of all the experiences I’ve had outside of buildings or cities. You can’t compare kayaking with your entire grade in Canada or hiking the Salkantay trail in Peru to much else. As for the community, I don’t think that anyone who hasn’t been to TGS can understand exactly what I mean when I say that we are a family. It isn’t easy when we’re now scattered all over the world, but I’m so proud to be a part of my grade. 

6) What do you think the next couple of years holds for you? 

Considering how fast my undergrad has gone by, it’s hard to say. As of now, I’m looking to pursue an LLM in International Business Law focusing on tax and insurance. Following that, I’m working towards starting a Training Contract at an international law firm or an organisation in International Development. Either way, I want to start working in an international environment with potential to work in various locations.  As much as I would like to plan with more certainty, I think the next couple of years are still open to a lot of different pathways which is both daunting but exciting.

Thanks Samaya!