"J'ai décidé d'être heureux" - Fabien Olicard
In this interview, Fabien Olicard recounts a pivotal decision he made at age 17 to prioritize personal happiness over obtaining the French baccalauréat. He deliberately abandoned the traditional terminale curriculum, opting instead to attend psychology lectures at the University of La Rochelle as a free auditor, emphasizing a desire to learn on his own terms. When asked about the value of a diploma, he reflects on the lingering shame and impostor feelings that stemmed from not having a formal certification, noting how French societal norms associate legitimacy with diplomas. Over the past two decades, having built a successful career, he now feels less burdened by the missing credential, yet acknowledges a residual sense of illegitimacy tied to the lack of formal validation.
