Sometimes I find myself wondering how many times I must have thought about the different possibilities of what my experience would be like living 13 hours away from my home country. But I can say that in the first month and a half I’ve spent at the Collegio, none of what I’d imagined has come to pass. We often arrive with certain fears, insecurities or doubts: ‘Will my roommate be a nice person?’, ‘Will I be seen as a weird person?’, ‘Will I be able to fit in?’ And all of this is normal; from there on, it’s up to us whether we pay attention to these thoughts or listen to what our hearts are telling us.
And I can say that I followed my heart.
My heart has led me to decide to trust the people who crossed my path and, above all, to open myself up to living this experience at its maximum. Starting with the societies and clubs, I used to only join the economics society out of sheer personal interest and the sports club because ‘you’ve got to stay fit’.
However, I’ll never forget the day when, at an event held at the Collegio for the presentation of a book, I ended up talking to some guys from the music club. Right from the start, they told me they were looking for people to join as there weren’t many of them, I told them I’d never had any musical experience, but despite that they said it wasn’t necessary and that everyone was welcome. So, on a normal evening after classes, I went to the music room for the first time, and I haven’t stopped going since. I could say it’s because it helps me de-stress, but really it’s because of my friends; each one of them makes me feel part of what we have created together, and we have fun while we learn on this journey called university.
Outside the clubs I’ve met people who share the same or similar goals to mine, and I think this is one of the things that has fascinated me most about my experience so far. Having those little moments, conversations whilst we’re having dinner together, going out, and knowing that the person you’re talking to is in the same situation as y|ou makes spending time together an extra motivation to better yourself a little more every day, and I believe I am, and will continue to, achieve this thanks to the Collegio.
The Collegio is a place that offers such a sense of comfort, thanks to the people and experiences you encounter there, that you end up feeling right at home all too quickly. This has never happened to me before, but I’m grateful for every second since I made the decision to apply from my home country (Peru), on the other side of the ocean.
So this month has brought me many experiences, people and, above all, stories that I know I will never forget throughout my academic and professional journey. It also continues to offer me the opportunity for personal development so that I can achieve those long-awaited goals of mine. I consider myself a dreamer, my goals are ambitious and I sometimes end up feeling a bit worn out; and I believe that this is precisely why the Collegio is the perfect place for those who, like me, also consider themselves dreamers. The Collegio is that source of energy one needs to push oneself further every day and, just as I said in the title of this essay, it’s a “breath that heals” your heart, your thoughts, your mind and yourself day by day, so that you’re ready to take on the world!
