Our testimonials: Ali

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Our testimonials: Ali

 

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Meet Ali from Iraq

Student of the Master's degree in English Studies

 

"Italy is one of the most affordable countries in Europe to study in. Also, you can study for free along with different scholarships that are offered by universities or by the Italian government"

 

Meet Ali

About myself 

I recently came back from the United States where I spent one week on the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership in Rockland, Maine. It was an intensive week of training in which I was trained by professional facilitators on the Island as a part of my journey as a United People Global Sustainability Leader. In 2021, I was selected among 5,000 thousand applicants to be a UPG Sustainability Leader in which we received 9 weeks of intensive online training about the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, and after that, to go on a fully funded week to the USA to receive further mentoring and training.
Currently, I am working on an educational project that will help students to receive a better quality education (SDG 4). I am forever thankful for my second home Italy especially the university of Padova for providing me with all the help and facilities that I needed to make it successful all the way to the USA.
Also, I had the chance to attend and participate in the Schroders and Enactus UK three-day Innovation Internship Challenge in which I developed a Dairy project along with my colleagues from different universities and nationalities. My main role was as a Social Media Executive.
In 2021, I was selected among 5000 thousand applicants by The World Bank and The Youth Summit to participate in a 2-day program about "Resilient Recovery for People and Planet" that took place online due to the pandemic. I learned about leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
I also worked as a volunteer with GoCamp, a Ukraine-based NGO, on an educational project from July 2020 to Apr 2021 which aimed at helping Ukrainian students with their English (mainly speaking and writing). As well, I helped campers in creating their assigned projects, tasks, and workshops that are mainly related to culture, music, sports, and sustainability.
I volunteered as English tutor too with Washington English Center based in the USA from January 2021 to March 2021. I helped my student who was about to move to the US with his English, particularly fluency and pronunciation.
I spend my free time taking online courses on Coursera, EDX, Future Learn, and other educational platforms to learn more about different skills. I have recently completed a course on project management that is offered by Google. So far, I have completed more than 20 courses online in different fields. Besides that, I like photography, traveling, and learning languages.
Finally, I am honored to receive the Italian scholarship that is offered by the Ministry of Foreign affairs and international cooperation and I am honored to represent Italy in my future endeavors. So thank you Italy for everything.


   
    Why did you decide to study in Padua and how have you found the experience so far?    

I chose Padua because of its location and historical background. I was interested in Italian poets Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarca as I come from Iraq where we have the best-known poets like Mohamed Al_Jawahry and Badr Shakir Al-sayyab. So I felt that Padua is very close to me because of its location, history, and cultural background.

   
    What are some things people might not know about studying in Italy?    

People might think that Italy is so expensive to live and study in but the reality is different. Italy is one of the most affordable countries in Europe to study in. Also, you can study for free along with different scholarships that are offered by universities or by the Italian government.

   
    A day in the life of a UNIPD student: tell us a bit about student life in Italy. What do you do for fun and where are your favourite places to spend time?    

My day as a student is full of activities and stuff to do. I have to wake up early in the morning at 6:30 so I can have my breakfast and then get prepared to go to university. Usually, classes start at 8:30 AM and finish at 6 PM. I have some breaks in between classes either to catch up with another class or to have small talk with my friends while enjoying a quick snack together. I enjoy spending my spare time around Prato Della vale or around Porta Portello where I can meet my friends there to drink some coffee or have a conversation while sitting on the grass next to the riverside.

   
    What is the food like in Padua? What is your favourite Italian dish and why?    

Italian cuisine is so delicious and cannot be compared to others, especially Pizza and Pasta. My favorite dish is Pasta as it has its own taste that you cannot find it elsewhere.

   
    Have you found it easy to meet new people since starting university? How have you done this?    

It is easy to meet new people as long as I go to meetings, and participate in different events, conferences, or social gatherings.

   
    What advice would you give to potential students thinking of studying abroad in Italy?    

I would say that try to learn some Italian before coming as it will help you in your everyday life. Even some words could help you such as Ciao, Grazie, and arrivederci. Because You will need to use the language even if your program is in English. Also, try to participate in every event you come across and do not say no to any chance you encounter as it could open doors for you in the future.


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