Cleaning up the creeks of Marseille, school guidance, initiatives with Chantiers du Coeur, and even the 24 Hours of Le Mans bike race—these are just some of the projects Pierre Rivière is involved in!
Pierre Rivière is a first-year student in the Civil Engineering program in Aix-en-Provence.
"I literally fell in love with the public works sector because it's such a melting pot. We learn from each other and we're dealing with real-world issues. It's a lesson in humility and perseverance, with people at its core. Through our studies, we are also quickly led to take on managerial, technical, and financial responsibilities."
Discovering the reality of the field as a companion
I wanted to start my work-study program at Freyssinet, a subsidiary of the Vinci Group, as a journeyman, even though I had previously held a higher position. This attitude was appreciated by both my management and the construction teams. It allows me to forge real bonds with the teams and discover the reality of the field. My goal is to build strong technical and managerial skills.
At Freyssinet, I am living a dream come true. This company is renowned for its high level of technical expertise and innovation. It is a leader in repair work on buildings, bridges, dams, reservoirs, and more. Extending the lifespan of these structures makes even more sense in the current ecological context.
In addition, Freyssinet generates most of its revenue abroad by carrying out titanic projects. This will give me plenty of opportunities to work internationally! What's more, I caught the adventure bug in French Guiana, where I lived as a child.
Guidance for young people is essential!
I enjoy taking on challenges. That's how I got promoted to site manager at the age of 19. I've also just agreed to take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans cycling race with third-year students, even though I've never cycled on the road before! I was elected class representative and member of the campus council because I think I'm a caring and sociable person. After bringing our classes together, we would like to promote public works in coordination with the campus administration and the AFEV, an association that encourages young people to take action against educational inequality.
Career guidance is essential. I had no connection to public works. If I persisted in this sector, it was largely thanks to my first mentor: a Gadzart!
Be open to others
In May, we will also be participating in cleaning up the creeks in Marseille. Students from my class have launched a humanitarian and social association called Les chantiers du cœur, in which we will all be participating.
Ultimately, for me, commitment can take many different forms. The important thing is to be open to others and to embrace the unknown. I am particularly inspired by a quote from Churchill: "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
