Hello! My name is Mary, I'm 18 years old and I'm from France. I have been drawn to movement - it seems that I simply cannot sit still! I love sports: I do Pilates - it helps me feel my body, be in harmony with myself, and I also play volleyball. On the court I am charged with energy, I love the team spirit and these seconds when everything depends on coordinated work. I try to remain kind and positive, even when the day is not going well: I believe that a smile can make someone’s day a little brighter. I love walking along the old streets of Paris, listening to the city whisper its stories, and drinking coffee in tiny cafes where the barista already knows my order. For me, France is not just a country, it is a feeling of home, the smell of a fresh baguette in the morning and sunsets over the Seine.

I want to try surfing and catch my first wave somewhere on the Atlantic coast. I dream of having a vintage camera so I can shoot film and wait for it to be developed, just like in the good old days. Also on the list are a book in English in the original (I want to improve my language), a cozy blanket with a checkered pattern and tickets to a concert of my favorite band. And, of course, a small notebook in a leather cover - to write down not only plans, but also random thoughts that come to mind on the way home.

Sometimes I think about how quickly things change. Today you are standing on the court, preparing to serve the ball, and tomorrow life throws up a completely different scenario. And there’s beauty in that—unpredictability. It seems to me that happiness is not an end point, but the ability to notice small things: how the wind plays with your hair, how the rain smells after the heat, how a friend laughs next to you. We so often chase big goals that we forget to live in the moment. I try to learn something new every day and believe that even if the path is not straight, it still leads to where I should be.

Besides Pilates and volleyball, I love photography. Not for the sake of beautiful shots for social networks, but to capture moments: a ray of sunshine on the pavement, down in the fast pace of the city. And, of course, I read: from classics to modern novels, the main thing is that the story makes the heart beat faster. And on weekends, my friends and I have mini-picnics in the parks - no fuss, just to be together.

I dream of one day hitchhiking around Europe - without a clear route, just following my mood and new acquaintances. I want to play for the university volleyball team and feel the stands chanting your name. I also dream of opening a small cafe where they will serve the best croissants in the city and where every guest will feel at home. And, probably, the most intimate thing is to leave something good behind: be it the support of a friend, warm advice, or just a smile to a stranger.