Medium. Mentor. Maverick. Meet Michelle at 82

From Viking bloodlines to visions of the beyond, Michelle Dierckx’s life reads like an epic novel. Born in Belgium to Ottoman-Turk parents, she’s lived on nearly every continent, worked for the World Bank and European Commission, and taught diplomats for the U.S. State Department. She’s a multilingual scholar, a medium by birth, and a woman who’s always said yes to adventure. Now 82, Michelle is lifting weights at the Y, writing her memoirs, and proving that reinvention has no expiration date. We sat down with this globe-trotting visionary on her birthday for a conversation packed with wisdom, wit, and wonder.

West End vibes with Michelle (second from left), Sousanne, and Douglas — laughter, stories, and moonlight on the waters.

Humans of Galveston: Michelle, your resume reads like a world map. How did it all begin?

Michelle: Well, I got married very young, and after my divorce I had two children and an anthropology degree, which wasn’t very practical at the time. So, I went back to Europe and started looking for work. I took anything I could find: six months at a bank, a short-term contract with the European Commission. Then, I joined a Lebanese company and ended up in Brazil. That changed everything. I realized I had been settling. I wasn’t meant to be anyone’s secretary. I was meant to lead.

Humans of Galveston: What came next?

Michelle: I dared! After Brazil, I was hired to work in Louisiana for the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana. I’m fluent in French, Spanish, and Italian, so I was writing tests for the Department of Education, too. Eventually, I asked if they would sponsor my education degree — and they did! That opened doors, and I ended up working in Algeria, teaching children and even taking oil workers’ wives on Saturday shopping trips, navigating life in a French-speaking, Muslim, Communist country.

Humans of Galveston: Did you always know you were a medium?

Michelle: Not at first. But there’s a history in my family — recognized mediums going back generations. During World War I, my ancestors used their gifts to help with the war effort. I had my first serious out-of-body experience at age 12. I saw myself – literally, while a plane crash happened nearby. It scared me so badly my father had to explain: “Oh, yes. I forgot to tell you … you’re gifted.”

Humans of Galveston: What was that like—growing up with these gifts?

Michelle: It was overwhelming. I was very shy. I didn’t talk about it much, but I always knew I was connected to something bigger. When I had a near-death experience during childbirth, I saw heaven. I didn’t want to come back! But I did, and ever since, my life has been about doing good for others, helping them find their own extraordinary path.

Humans of Galveston: You’ve earned degrees in anthropology, education, and even mathematics and economics. What pushed you to keep going?

Michelle: Curiosity and the refusal to stop learning. After my third degree, one of my professors said, “Michelle, you have three bachelor's. Now go get a master’s!” I thought I couldn’t because I didn’t know how to take multiple-choice tests. But when I found out Johns Hopkins didn’t use them, so I went. That’s where I earned my master’s in International Relations and Economic Development. I specialized in Africa and the Middle East, which I already knew well from living and working there.

Humans of Galveston: So you’ve worked for the World Bank, taught art in Taiwan, helped write Spanish language textbooks, served as a diplomatic translator. What haven’t you done?

Michelle: (Laughs) Publish my books! But I’m working on that now. I have at least 10 books in me — one for each chapter of my life. Since I moved every two years for most of my life, each place is its own story. I’m finally taking time for me in Houston, going to the Y, working out, and writing again. I feel 60, not 82!

Humans of Galveston: You’ve lived through war, revolution, and cultural shifts. What’s your biggest lesson for the world today?

Michelle: Dare. Don’t settle. Don’t follow someone else’s path just because it’s safe or expected. Trust your intuition. Be curious. Be kind. And don’t let anyone tell you that your dreams are too big. They’re not. If you believe in miracles — and I do — you can live an extraordinary life. At any age.

Humans of Galveston: Final thoughts on this birthday milestone?

Michelle: This is the first time in a long time I’m doing something just for myself. I want people to know that life doesn’t stop at 60, or even 80. Life is a journey of constant discovery. Write your story, live your truth, and remember: the world is still full of magic. You just have to be willing to see it.

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