Jeanne Bartoletti and Estelle Carton are enrolled in the Grande Ecole Program at the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers , one in her first year and the other in her second year.
Whether they discovered their passion at a young age or later in life, they explain what motivates them and makes them proud, and how they found support on campus to continue pursuing their passions.
Let's hear from Jeanne.
Jeanne, how has your athletic career unfolded?
I discovered volleyball at the age of 7, at Union Vigonza (Italy). Accompanied by my friends, we were quickly promoted, rapidly becoming potential hopefuls for the club. Back in France, these results motivated me to re-enroll, this time at the Etudiant Club Orléans, where I joined a team that stayed with me until my senior year. At the end of my senior year, I decided to quit volleyball to devote myself entirely to my studies. In the end, as I was repeating my second year of preparatory classes, I couldn't do without another year of volleyball. So I enrolled at Paris Amicale Camou, where I was able to train with the Nationale 3 team. Today, I am a member of the Pays d'Aix Venelles club, where I play in the Prénationale league while also training with the Nationale 2 team.
Through various French championships, I was able to travel all over the country and meet lots of people in the volleyball world, which I loved.
What are you most proud of?
I am very happy to have been part of a team in Orléans that never gave up. I learned a lot from them in terms of fighting spirit, and I am very proud of that. For example, we might lose the first set 25-3, but then win the next set and the tiebreak to qualify for the quarterfinals of the French Cup. In beach volleyball, my teammate and I were losing 9-20, but we ended up winning the set 22-20!
How can you combine sports and high-level studies?
It's all about organization. You have to learn to make the most of every moment. Personally, I've had to give up on "chilling out," as they say. As soon as class is over, I head to the gym. If I'm taking public transportation, why not study on the way? You can also do the opposite: work out at the gym with your flashcards on the machines. When I go away for away games on the weekend, I often work during the trip, adapting my work methods to suit the working environment I have when traveling. For example, I've learned to study using more visual and auditory methods, so that I don't have to write too much.
How does Arts et Métiers help Arts et Métiers achieve your goals?
Arts et Métiers a school that was originally designed to accommodate high-level athletes, but ultimately it is very attentive to the talents of these students and listens to them in order to adapt if necessary. I really appreciated that they made me feel comfortable from the beginning of the year, so that I didn't feel ashamed of my passion and didn't hesitate to talk about it in order to find the best balance with possible help from the school.
Now let's hear from Estelle.
Estelle, how did your athletic career unfold (from choosing this sport to reaching your current level)?
I started practicing Krav Maga relatively late in life. In high school, I was looking for a sport that would allow me to let off steam and discover a world that was new to me. No one in my circle of friends practiced combat sports. I really liked this sport because I find it comprehensive, combining cardio, endurance, and mental focus. The techniques you learn are realistic, and the movements are logical. Unlike running (which I also love), it's a sport that requires total concentration, so you can't think about exams, for example.
I continued practicing this sport throughout high school and then during my preparatory classes, during which I earned my black belt.
What are you most proud of?
I think what I'm most proud of is having dared to take up a combat sport when I didn't know anyone and had no knowledge of the field. At first, no one believed me when I said I practiced Krav Maga, but with determination and perseverance, I made a lot of progress. I would like to thank my club, Krav Maga Sdu06, and its instructors for making this possible.
How can you combine sports and high-level studies?
I think it was sport that enabled me to succeed academically. It taught me to be efficient and to learn how to organize myself. It's true that my studies limited the number of training sessions I could attend (one or two per week), but I compensated for this in part by taking up running, which can be done anywhere and anytime.
You continued competing. How Arts et Métiers help Arts et Métiers achieve your goals?
In my first year, I continued practicing Krav Maga. It required a lot of commitment, because my club was in Nice, so I had to travel there every weekend to be able to train once a week. Nevertheless, I had the opportunity to participate in the French championships.
Arts et Métiers let me take an exam at a later date so that I could go to the championships.
My partner Sandrine and I won the senior women's technical competition. Coming back with the French championship title was a huge reward.
This year, I was forced to stop because I could no longer make the weekend trips back and forth. However, I am continuing to run. My next marathon is scheduled for April 7. I hope to be able to start again next year.
I think it was sports that helped me succeed in school. It taught me to be efficient and learn how to organize myself.
Congratulations to both of you!
