While not guaranteed, it’s a fact that diligent students are more likely to excel in life as well. From the beginning of his high school years, László Attila Csőke had clear ideas about his future. When he started his secondary studies, the Népújság newspaper published an article titled "Aiming to Become a Diplomat", and they revisited his story on the brink of his further studies.
As a student at Gárdonyi Géza High School in Eger, even in his first year, he spoke about envisioning a life beyond his studies as a diplomat. Back then, his goal was to pass English and Russian language exams, but he was also eager to learn Arabic. Moreover, he aimed high, setting his sights on the diplomatic department of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.
It’s always fascinating to look back after a few years to see which of one’s dreams came true and what couldn’t be realized. An interview three and a half years later revealed that Csőke had been admitted to the Moscow university and had successfully obtained intermediate-level language certificates in Russian and English. He admitted he had room for improvement in Hungarian but remained passionate about history and literature.
He had a similar approach to language learning, avoiding rote memorization and focusing on attentive study, which paid off in the challenges of language exams. He also ventured into Arabic with the help of a Yemeni medical student, but their sessions eventually ended when the tutor left the city.
His former homeroom teacher, Mrs. Jánosné Fodor, described László as a diligent and excellent student who was always willing to help his classmates. Despite his focus on studies, he never missed an opportunity for a good joke, which was typical of his age. His youthful enthusiasm remained, as he and many of his peers aimed for higher education.
Even in the 1980s, it was evident that continuous learning and targeted preparation were essential for achieving one’s desired career path. According to the article, László Csőke continued exploring Arabic and expressed interest in Chinese, believing these languages would be valuable in his future diplomatic career.