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panorama | 2013 7 with Blaise Hefti 99 >>> Panorama: Your family has a unique connection to LAS – the family business, Hefti Sports, is an important partner with the school, you and your mother worked at the school, and you graduated from the school. Which relationship is most meaningful for your family? >>> Blaise: Growing up, I always viewed LAS as this unique and unreachable place where students from all around the world would come to study. The day my parents decided to send me there, my mind, heart and person opened up to a world I was unaware of until then. During my 3 years of studies, I made the best friends of my life, discovered new cultures, discussed world topics and realized how small my life used to be. Since then, I have taken over my family business and have continued to develop this special relationship with the school both in a business environment as well as personal. Today, the school means many things to me but it is this feeling of family, friendship and mix of cultures that remains the basis of my relationship with this institution. >>> Panorama: You have seen a lot of LAS students over the years, what makes LAS students unique? >>> Blaise: I believe that living amongst over 50 nationalities, sharing your daily life and learning from one another’s cultures creates the citizens of the world that graduate from LAS. >>> Panorama: What is your favorite LAS memory? >>> Blaise: One of my best memories was my trip to Morocco during my senior cultural trip for a Peace Corps project. It really was special to be in such a remote setting with all my friends. >>> Panorama: What advice would you give future LAS graduates? >>> Blaise: LAS really gives you the potential to do great things in life. I would therefore encourage every future graduate to live these years to his or her fullest by having fun, studying hard, sharing and learning from one another. >>> Panorama: Do you still wake up on snowy mornings and get excited it might be a “snow day”? >>> Blaise: I wish!!! Today, I generally wake up to a snowy day thinking of a busy day at work. >>> Panorama: Okay, what’s the best sales advice you’ve learned from Hefti Sports? >>> Blaise: Believe in what you sell. u ALUMNI Q&A ’ PHOTO: THOM PADICK
