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| Veronica and her Erasmus mates in Innsbruck |
To grow up and find your own place in the world
is never easy, especially because that is something you start doing when you
are a teenager, which is a very complicated moment in everybody’s life. Well,
complicated as well as exciting. This
series of posts dedicated to my former students and their after-school
experiences has the aim to help my present students to become more aware of
what expects them out there once they leave the safe environment of high school
and to give them suggestions and advice on how to brace themselves.
Today it is Veronica’s turn. She’s had quite a
brilliant academic career so far. She can be a model, an inspiring example with her will
strength and unsatiable curiosity. Recently, she was even awarded a very special
prize by the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.
Hi! I’m Veronica and Mrs Spila was my English teacher, though only during my last year at grammar school. I spent a nice period there and I was really satisfied. My school career was quite brilliant and I got my degree with the highest grade… but not because I love studying… just thanks to my willpower.
In my life I’ve often changed my mind about
what I wanted to do in the future. When I was in middle school, my dream was to become an
archaeologist. This is why I chose grammar school. But I loved also literature,
reading good books and writing, too. So I thought “why not a
journalist?”. Yes, good idea. But I loved cinema, as well. So I decided I might
have been a film critic.
Actually, I’ve always loved lots of things, but none was my “true love” and, in short, after leaving high school, I decided to study Economy at University.
Actually, I’ve always loved lots of things, but none was my “true love” and, in short, after leaving high school, I decided to study Economy at University.
You maybe wonder why. At that moment it was a
very simple decision actually, because I knew exactly what I wanted in my life:
I wanted to be a manager. Not an easy goal, but that was my ambition.
I loved the idea of running a company, of
contributing to create something people would want to buy and, l last but not
least, I loved leading! (My sister knows that pretty well! J).
So I started studying Economy and Management at the European
University of Rome. During my bachelor years I had to move to Rome and live
there and I had the possibility to meet a lot of nice people and make some interesting experiences. For example, I
worked as a voleenter to help disabled people.
After three years I got my bachelor degree and
I decided to go on with my studies. Just the bachelor degree, in fact, is not
sufficient to find a good job. Competition in the job market is strong and a
master degree allows you to be a step ahead of your competitors. So I enrolled
for a master. I wanted to meet new
people and study in a new environment, so I started my MSC in Management at Tor
Vergata University.
Nevertheless, I felt that it was not enough to
make new experiences. As soon as I visited Tor Vergata website I saw the
announcement for spending a period abroad with the Erasmus program. “This is
what I want” I thought. So I had not attended my first master class yet, but I
had already applied for the Erasmus. Exactly one year and 10 exams later I
left. Direction Austria. Austria could seem a very near destination I know, but
I made this choice because I have always been fascinated from that country and
its culture. I spent six months in Innsbruck but I visited also a lot of other
places in Austria with my new friends.
It was one of the most beautiful experiences in
my life. I attended some master courses with students from all over Europe and
I met people from all over the world. There is also the other face of the coin.
Before applying for the Erasmus program I was very indecisive. On the one hand
I wanted to leave, while on the other I knew that my English was not so fluent
and I should have attended master courses taught in English and live with
foreign people. In that moment I frequently thought about Mrs Spila. “If I had
had Mrs Spila as my teacher all through my high school career!”. But I was very
determined to achieve my goal. I think all people have some features that allow
them to achieve their aims. One of mine is determination. Hence, I left.
After that experience, I came back to Italy and I got my master degree in April
2015. The hardet part began. When you are a student, in fact, the achievement
of your goals depends on you and your diligence, but when you have to face the
job world that is not enough. When you want to get a job, in fact, you have to
compete with a lot of other guys, and everyone has the same aim as you. So you
have to find the way to set off your capabilities and show that you are the
best choice for that job.
I was looking for something that could allow me
to make the most of my knowledge, challenge my competence and my attitudes and
that gave me the chance to grow up professionally. So I decided to start a Phd.
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| Veronica receives her prize from President Mattarella |
Last month I received very good news: I won a
national prize thanks to my master thesis. I wrote about the traceability and
sustainability in made in Italy productions and in particular in the fashion
industry and it was greatly appreciated. It is the proof that if you undertake
something you are really interested in and you work thoroughly on it, in the
end you will have get some positive results.
I don’t know what I want to do in my future
exactly, but I know that I will always look for a way to reach my aims.
If I may give you some advice, I'd tell you to dream and to find the way
to fulfil your dreams. Do not be afraid of change! Do not be scared of new
experiences! Be curious! And study, study a lot! Studying sounds a very bad
word at your age, I perfectly know that. Anyway, study what you like, and not
just because you have to know as much as possible (of course that is good too)
but because the best consequence of studying is not get to have the right answers
but get to ask the right questions.
Because without new questions there will not be
new answers, hence new knowledge, and development and advancement will not be achieved.
Veronica
Veronica's piece was previously posted on my LEARN ONLINE blog
1 comment:
What a way to fulfill your dreams! Congratulations on your prize and best wishes with your PHD.
denise
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