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Few days ago we had the pleasure to meet in person Ambre Visive at CERN.

1. Can you share a bit about your journey to particle physics? What drew you to the field, and how did your experiences outside of formal education shape your current career?

As a child, I wanted to become a surgeon because I wanted to help people. Later, I considered a career as internaitonal lawyer, believing I could still make a difference and helping people. However, at the age of 16, a teacher suggested I take a look at what is called a "Classe Préparatoire" in France, which is an intensive two-year program that prepares students for entrance exams to top engineering, science and humanities university.

While checking online one of these universities, I discovered their physics program. The main question was: What would I do afterward with a degree in physics? What career opportunities would I have? I remained uncertain until the last year of high school when our teacher organised a group visit to the LAL laboratory. That visit changed my life. We participated in an LHCb masterclass, and everything suddenly made sense.

My academic journey was complex, mostly for burocracy matters, but I eventually found a way to work in this field that fascinates me. I was a summer student at CERN and later spent seven months as a technical student. It was a wonderful experience. Now, I am doing a PhD at Nikhef (Dutch Instute for Subatomic Physics) and the University of Amsterdam. I work on the ATLAS experiment. I frequently visit CERN to do shifts in our detector.

2. What was the most exciting or memorable moment of the masterclass for you?

The most exciting part was searching for particles on a monitor. However, the most memorable moment was being chosen as the spokesperson to present my group's results. At that moment, I truly felt part of something bigger than I had ever imagined. I was both proud and scared at the same time, a new and contrasting feeling, but definitely a positive and unforgettable experience.

3. How did your experience with the IMC influence your decision to study physics and later pursue a PhD in particle physics?

For me, the masterclass was a turning point. The more I progressed in my studies, the more I encountered people who motivated me and encouraged me never to give up. My parents always supported me and this helped me a lot. It is important for a young person looking for his path, to have curious relatives. Even if they are not in the filed, they were curious to know what I was going to study. It was great! Also thanks to the people I met along the way, I ended up doing what I love and dreamed so much about. Even during some down moments, my professors pushed me to not giving up. Of course, I owe a lot to the enthusiasm of my teacher, who brought us to the masterclass. I am also glad both my curiosity and my determination helped me to go in the right direction

4. Looking back, now that you're working in particle physics, is there something you wish you had known earlier that future IMC participants could benefit from understanding?

There isn't anything particularly negative that makes me say, "If only I had known that earlier..."
However, I didn't anticipate how complex the bureaucracy would be (at least in France) to study particle physics. Luckily, thanks to the masterclass moderators, I knew exactly what steps to take. That day, perhaps in response to a question during the Q&A session, they explicitly and precisely told us, "If you want to be like me, these are the steps you should follow." They were impeccable.

This guidance was crucial, and I believe it is essential for any student trying to find their path: having someone who can clearly explain what to do to become who you want to be. Not everyone gets that opportunity, so I was fortunate to have such great mentors.

5. If you could speak to a high school student who is unsure about attending a masterclass, what would you say to encourage them?

Be curious. Go and see for yourself. You might like it, or you might not, but you need to experience it to find out. If someone is unsure about what they can do with particle physics (as I was before the masterclass), I would tell them: "If you don't know what to do with particle physics, you can turn it into whatever you want." This field offers many career opportunities, often only discovered along the way or through excellent moderators/teachers who can explain the role of a scientist in this sector, just like the ones I had.

6. Reflections on outreach and, if you have any, your plans and dreams for improving it.

I am from Guadeloupe, a French Caribbean island that has often faced challenges due to its geographical distance from mainland France, resulting in limited access to certain opportunities. I would love to establish contact with local teachers and organise an hour-long session with their students to introduce them to particle physics and its possibilities. Science should be accessible to everyone, regardless of geographical location. I believe that outreach efforts should focus more on regions that lack easy access to scientific resources. Many students might not even consider a career in physics simply because they have never been exposed to it. "By sharing my story and experiences, I hope to inspire students from underrepresented areas to explore this fascinating field". In the future, I would love to work on making masterclasses more engaging and interactive, perhaps incorporating virtual visits experiences to make students feel as if they are inside the experiments. I also dream of developing mentorship programs for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring they receive the same guidance and encouragement that helped me find my path.

Moreover, I would like to challenge the notion that scientists are distant, only recognized for their brilliant formulas or grand names. Science, and physics in particular, is much more than that. Behind every formula, there are countless individuals and a lot of teamwork. Nowadays, I believe we are on the right track to break down this outdated image of the scientist as someone far removed from reality.