When you meet someone like Amelia Fournis-Lerma, you can tell right away that she truly loves learning. From a young age, Amelia showed a deep curiosity about the world — especially about how people lived, thought, and created thousands of years ago. Her story begins at the City of London School for Girls, one of the UK’s most respected schools.
There, Amelia wasn’t just another student working hard to get good grades. She was someone who enjoyed understanding why things were the way they were. She studied subjects like history, languages, and literature with real excitement. Her teachers noticed this early on. They saw how much she loved exploring ideas, asking thoughtful questions, and diving deep into topics that most people might overlook.
Her results spoke for themselves — top grades in her GCSEs and AAA in her A-Levels. But even more impressive than her scores was her passion. She didn’t study only to pass exams; she wanted to understand. And that is what has always made Amelia stand out.
A Natural Leader and Team Player
Amelia’s school life wasn’t just about books and exams. She also took on leadership roles that helped her grow as a person. One of her biggest roles was as Chair of the International Committee at her school. That position gave her the chance to organize events, build connections with other students, and learn how to bring people together — a skill that would later help her in her teaching and mentoring roles.
She also contributed to the Classics Magazine and her school’s publication, Legenda. Writing for these magazines allowed her to share her thoughts about history, literature, and classical stories in her own way. You could already see the beginnings of the scholar she would become — someone who not only studies but also communicates ideas clearly and creatively.
These experiences helped Amelia gain confidence, balance teamwork with responsibility, and express her love for the classical world in ways others could enjoy too.
A Passion for Classics at University College London
After finishing school, Amelia took the next big step: joining University College London (UCL) to study Classics and the Ancient World. UCL is one of the best places in the UK for classical studies — and Amelia fit right in.
At university, she studies everything from ancient languages like Latin and Greek to the philosophy, art, and history of ancient civilizations. What she loves most about Classics is how it connects the past to the present. As she once explained to a classmate, learning about ancient Greece or Rome isn’t just about old stories — it’s about understanding how human ideas have grown and changed through time.
Studying Classics helps her explore big questions: How did ancient thinkers shape our modern world? Why do we still tell myths that are thousands of years old? What can we learn from the societies that came before us? Amelia believes these questions are just as important today as they were centuries ago.
Her professors often praise her thoughtful approach to these topics. They describe her as someone who doesn’t just memorize facts but tries to see the bigger picture — to understand why ancient ideas still matter in 2025.
Standing Out Through Academic Excellence
In 2025, Amelia Fournis-Lerma gained national attention when she became a runner-up in the Minds Underground Essay Competition in the Classics category. Her essay, titled “Are Myth and History Compatible?”, explored how ancient myths often mix imagination with real historical events — and how those old stories still shape how we think today.
The judges loved how she explained complex ideas in a simple, clear, and creative way. She argued that myths weren’t just made-up tales; they were reflections of how people understood their world. Even now, she noted, myths influence everything from art and books to modern political ideas.
That essay showed what makes Amelia special: she knows how to connect the past with the present. Her writing proved that classical studies aren’t just old and dusty — they’re alive, modern, and full of lessons for today’s world.
Learning by Teaching — Experience at Ma Petite Ecole UK
While many students focus only on studying, Amelia also works part-time as a Teaching Assistant at Ma Petite Ecole UK, a small but respected school. This role gives her a unique chance to combine her love of learning with real classroom experience.
In her job, Amelia helps teachers with lessons, assists students when they need extra support, and even covers classes when a teacher is away. She’s known for her calm, patient approach and for the way she makes learning fun and easy for younger students.
Teaching has taught her more than she expected. She has learned how to explain complicated ideas in simple words — something that also helps her with her university work. It’s not easy to take big topics like ancient philosophy and make them interesting for children, but Amelia manages it beautifully.
Her time at Ma Petite Ecole UK has also shown her how important good communication and kindness are in education. She believes that learning isn’t just about information — it’s about curiosity, confidence, and encouragement.
Mentoring and Helping Others
Before joining UCL, Amelia also spent time mentoring younger students at her old school, helping them with languages like French and German. She enjoyed guiding others and helping them understand things that once confused her too. That experience made her realize how rewarding teaching can be.
Through mentoring, Amelia learned to listen, to explain, and to adapt — skills that continue to serve her well today. She often says that helping others learn helps her grow too. It strengthens her understanding and gives her new ways to think about education.
Mentorship is also a big part of who she is as a person. She believes that knowledge should be shared, not kept to oneself. Her friends and students often describe her as someone who “always takes time to help.”
A Modern Voice for Ancient Ideas
What makes Amelia Fournis-Lerma truly special is the way she connects the ancient world to modern life. She doesn’t just study old texts or memorize dates — she looks for meaning. She asks, What can these ancient stories teach us today?
In her classes at University College London (UCL), Amelia often relates ancient history and philosophy to current issues. She finds links between Greek democracy and today’s political debates or between Roman literature and modern storytelling. It’s her way of showing that the past is never really gone — it still shapes who we are.
Friends and classmates say that when Amelia talks about Classics, her face lights up. She speaks with energy and passion, and her love for the subject is contagious. She believes that if people can understand ancient ideas, they can also understand themselves and the world better.
The Creative and Entrepreneurial Side
Amelia isn’t only about books and lectures. She also has a creative side that shows her modern personality. On her Depop shop, under the name “ameliafournis_,” she sells vintage and handmade items. Each piece she sells tells a small story — just like the historical items she studies in her Classics degree.
Her shop reflects her eye for beauty and history. She often finds old clothes or accessories and gives them new life. You could say her work on Depop is a modern form of storytelling — mixing the past with the present in a fun, stylish way.
Running her own shop also shows another side of her — her entrepreneurial spirit. Managing inventory, creating listings, and connecting with buyers take effort and time. But Amelia handles it all while studying and working. It shows how organized, creative, and determined she is. Many people see this as proof that she can balance serious academic work with creativity and real-world projects.
Making Classics Fun and Accessible
One of Amelia’s biggest goals is to make classical studies easier and more interesting for everyone. Many people think Classics is a difficult or “old-fashioned” subject. But Amelia wants to change that. She believes that stories from ancient Greece and Rome can still be exciting — if they’re told the right way.
When she teaches at Ma Petite Ecole UK, she sometimes turns ancient myths into short stories or fun activities for her students. She might explain how Hercules was the first “superhero” or how Greek gods were just like us — full of emotions, mistakes, and lessons. Her students love it because she makes history feel alive.
Amelia says that the key to good teaching is curiosity. If students are curious, they will learn naturally. That’s why she tries to bring ancient stories into real life, showing that learning doesn’t have to be boring or hard.
A Voice for Future Education
As Amelia Fournis-Lerma continues her studies, she’s also thinking about the future. She dreams of becoming an educator, researcher, or curriculum designer — someone who helps shape how Classics is taught in modern schools.
She believes that classical studies should be open to everyone, not just to people in top universities. Amelia wants to design programs that make ancient history and literature easier to understand for young students, especially in primary and secondary schools.
She also hopes to show how Classics connects to other subjects. For example, how Greek art influenced modern design, or how Roman politics still affects today’s systems. By linking the ancient world to everyday life, she’s helping a new generation see that the past isn’t “old” — it’s still part of who we are.
Mentorship and Leadership
Throughout her journey, Amelia has also become a role model for other students. Her experience mentoring younger learners during her school years taught her the power of support and guidance. She believes that success means lifting others up along the way.
At UCL, she continues to share her knowledge, often helping classmates with essay ideas or exam preparation. She believes learning should be shared — not a competition. Her kindness and willingness to help others make her not only a strong student but also a great teammate.
Her mentors often say that Amelia has a rare mix of qualities — discipline, empathy, and creativity. She’s not just focused on her own progress but also on helping others grow. That’s what makes her truly stand out in her field.
The Future Ahead
Looking at all she’s done already, it’s clear that Amelia Fournis-Lerma has a bright future ahead. Whether she chooses to teach, research, or design educational programs, she will bring passion and purpose to everything she does.
She has already built a strong foundation — top academic results, teaching experience, leadership skills, and creative projects. These experiences have shaped her into a well-rounded young professional who can move easily between the worlds of academia, education, and creativity.
In the coming years, Amelia hopes to continue studying and maybe even complete postgraduate research. She wants to explore new ways of teaching Classics that include technology, storytelling, and interactive learning. She believes the best education happens when people can connect emotionally with what they’re learning — and she wants to make that happen for others.
A Modern Inspiration
In 2025, when so much of life feels fast and digital, Amelia Fournis-Lerma reminds us why learning still matters. Her story is proof that passion and curiosity can open doors — even in subjects that some people might think are “old-fashioned.”
Through her studies, teaching, mentoring, and creative projects, Amelia shows that the ancient world is still alive in modern hearts. She proves that when you combine knowledge with kindness and imagination, education can truly change lives.
Her journey is still unfolding, but one thing is certain — Amelia Fournis-Lerma is a name we’ll be hearing more of in the future. She’s a shining example of how young people can blend tradition with innovation, study with action, and learning with love.
And in doing so, she’s not just keeping the Classics alive — she’s giving them new life for generations to come.
