{"id":408,"date":"2017-03-24T18:59:51","date_gmt":"2017-03-24T22:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/commons.princeton.edu\/pariscasestudy\/?p=408"},"modified":"2017-04-02T13:09:32","modified_gmt":"2017-04-02T17:09:32","slug":"a-fisher-of-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/commons.princeton.edu\/pariscasestudy\/2017\/03\/24\/a-fisher-of-men\/","title":{"rendered":"A Fisher Of Men"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Katherine Trout<\/em><\/div>\n

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\"\"<\/span>Antoine Laurent, one of the SOS Mediterranee rescuers. Photo courtesy of AFP \/ Gabriel Bouys.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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PARIS, FRANCE \u2013 When Antoine Laurent was learning to sail on the beaches of Brittany, he never imagined he would use those skills to save thousands of drowning immigrants from the banks of Libya. But all that and more is in 25-year-old Laurent\u2019s job description at SOS Mediterranee, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of fleeing migrants in the ongoing European Refugee Crisis.<\/p>\n

Laurent grew up in the coastal French region of Brittany with a love of the sea in his blood. Influenced by his father\u2019s job as a skipper, Laurent began sailing at the age of five. But that\u2019s no surprise for a Brittany native. \u201cIt\u2019s quite common for people from Brittany to stay connected to the sea,\u201d he says. \u00a0As Laurent sharpened his sailing skills, he never forgot the sea. For him, the sea was a source of escape and contemplation. \u201cIt\u2019s a nice place to think, step back.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the age of 17, Laurent decided to make the sea a part of his lifelong career. He began his studies at Le Havre to become a merchant marine officer. When he was 18, he interned at a shipyard for 3 weeks in China. But it was there that he saw the darker \u201cbackside of the industry.\u201d Greed, corruption, and danger surrounded the beautiful waters. The sea didn\u2019t change, but his perception of society did.<\/p>\n

Laurent quickly realized that there were significant problems in the world, but not enough capable people seeking to fix them. He began to yearn for a way to use his knowledge and talents for good \u2013 but the right time and opportunity hadn\u2019t arrived yet.<\/p>\n

After four years of university, Laurent took a job at Louis Dreyfus Arnateur, where he charted oil fields before the drills would break ground. By 21, Laurent was successfully climbing the corporate ladder. He was the engine officer, running a ship with 300,000 euros on the line every day.<\/p>\n

But his family knew his heart and urged him to quit. Laurent recalls, \u201cI was always saying, I will when I\u2019m ready and when I find what I want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

One day, he found it.<\/p>\n

Enter SOS Mediterranee. Laurent discovered the organization after it issued a press release about its mission to offer maritime rescue to tens of thousands of immigrants fleeing their home countries during the Refugee Crisis. With his leadership and sailing experience, Laurent knew this was it. He had finally come face-to-face with his destiny.<\/p>\n

Laurent couldn\u2019t shake the feeling: \u201cHistory will remember the tragedy, the indifference of the masses, but also the hand that reached out. I don\u2019t want to be on the wrong side of history when I have to explain to my children in thirty years.\u201d<\/p>\n

He quit his job at the end of March 2016 \u2013 and on the 28th<\/sup>\u00a0of April he became the newest member of the SOS Mediterranee. \u201c[My family was] waiting for it for a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, his day-to-day operations range from checking equipment and planning the ship crew to helping the communications team and recruiting new partners.<\/p>\n

Laurent believes that everyone can make an impact through their unique abilities. He says, \u201cPeople say…what I do is a bit spectacular\u2026but I\u2019m just [doing] something someone also has to do.\u201d A slight tint of pink rushes across his cheeks. He admits, \u201cI don\u2019t really like the reaction of people; most the people they\u2019ll say\u2026oh you\u2019re a hero, you\u2019re really brave, you save people, that\u2019s nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laurent\u2019s mission is to shape the future for generations to come. \u201cWe are helping people reach Europe\u2026they are going to be Europeans.\u201d As for future plans, he\u2019s hoping to be unemployed as soon as possible. \u201cMy first hope is that this will end as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite his love for the sea, SOS Mediterranee needs him in Paris, where he is currently stationed. But his passion for helping others doesn\u2019t stop him from missing the sea.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s next? He gives an adventurous smile. \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Katherine Trout Antoine Laurent, one of the SOS Mediterranee rescuers. Photo courtesy of AFP \/ Gabriel Bouys.   PARIS, FRANCE \u2013 When Antoine Laurent was learning to sail on the beaches of Brittany, he never imagined he would use those skills to save thousands of drowning immigrants from the banks of Libya. But all … <\/p>\n

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