My most memorable experiences at the University of Padua were the moments shared with my classmates and friends that I made. I am not a shy person so I approached people that I found interesting and learned a lot from them. Other noteworthy experiences included attending classes in the iconic Palazzo Bo, and founding the Student Engagement Team during the pandemic. UNIPD provided a unique environment that motivated me to take advantage of the opportunities offered through the Arqus University Alliance. Since the bulk of my academic career at UNIPD occurred during the pandemic, I had to make the most of virtual meetups and digital exchanges. Fortunately for me, UNIPD offered full ZOOM access for enrolled students, which reduced a barrier to connection.

In my second year, I became involved in the Arqus University Alliance. I considered my relocation to Italy as my “Erasmus”, so I wasn’t keen on applying for study trips or study abroad opportunities. But, when the Benedetta Zatti from the Inclusion Sector invited me to contribute to Action Line 2 of Arqus I, the door to share my knowledge about diversity and inclusion was opened. Through the Arqus University Alliance, I met colleagues from Lyon, Bergen, Granada, Leipzig, Graz, Vilnius, and the other institutions that make up the alliance. I presented at the 2021 Arqus Annual Conference in Vilnius and travelled to Granada the following year for a similar purpose. As an alumnus, I briefly worked as an intern on the Arqus Student Agora alongside University of Minho to develop more spaces for students to contribute to the betterment of their universities. Although I have moved on to another career path in public health, I owe a lot of my professional growth to these sponsored opportunities. I recommend to all students to find a space at UNIPD in which they can build a meaningful network of colleagues with diverse backgrounds. Those connections can open a multitude of doors that will make your university experience even more rewarding.

I hardly remember my application to get accepted into the master’s programme, but I recall doubting myself and my worthiness of acceptance. I was fraught with anxiety, but I applied anyway, submitting my application during the final hour of the deadline. I didn’t have a background in law, and I didn’t really know any European languages other than English. But, I knew that if I didn’t try, I would regret my inaction for a very long time. I now know that the risk paid off. The fear, anxiety and uncertainty taught me to process these natural human emotions just as I would any other human emotion – acknowledge, explore, be patient.

Exciting: I got to live in and explore a country that many only dream of visiting at least once in their lives. If that isn’t pure bliss, I don’t know what is.

Cumbersome: I could have done without the biannual visits to the infamous Questura. That, coupled with my lacklustre grasp of the Italian language, made life a tad irritating.

Life-altering: While in Padova, I reunited with my Italian family (a family in Cittadella that I have known as an au pair since 2017) and, a year before my graduation, I met my now fiancé in Vicenza. That one decision that I made to apply to UNIPD and overcome challenges even though I wanted to return to the comforts of Canada - that one decision changed my life for the better.

If you are planning on relocating to Italy for school, please, please, please do yourself a favour and have a plan. Create a financial plan, create a time management plan, set short-, mid- and long-term goals. These seemingly supplemental tasks will make a huge difference in the long run. Consider these your risk assessment and risk management strategies.