Talking about myself has never really been my thing. I have been working in public communication for the last 13 years, so I’m used to writing news, telling stories, and highlighting the work of the institution I represent, the University of Cagliari. But writing about yourself is a whole different story. Every time I try, I feel a little awkward – kind of like when I take a selfie. And as a millennial (a fairly reserved one), I have to admit: selfies are not exactly my comfort zone.
But as a social media manager, I know that sometimes an image can tell a story much better than a thousand words. So I thought — why not try telling my experience at the University of Pécs as if it were a selfie? What kind of selfie would it be? And what would be in the frame?
Well, first of all, it would be a pretty full and lively selfie. In the background, far behind me, you see the city of Cagliari – its sun, its sea, and of course its university. My university, the one that gave me the chance to live this amazing exchange experience.
A bit closer, you’d see the city of Pécs, which welcomed me in March with cold weather and snow, but also with warmth and friendly smiles. It’s no coincidence that two of its most iconic landmarks are a telecommunications tower and a church that once was a mosque. Pécs, although without a river, has always been a city of bridges. And like its university – founded back in 1367 – it keeps welcoming people from all over the world. People who might seem different at first, but who are united by the same desire to learn, grow, and connect. That’s what makes Pécs a true university town, with more than 25,000 students, over 5,000 of whom come from abroad.
Closer still, almost next to me in the frame, are my colleagues at the University of Pécs. They welcomed me as one of their own and made me feel right at home. Thanks to them, this experience became something truly special, both professionally and personally. Professionally, because I got to see how a well-resourced communications office can work. And personally, because I learned a lot from people who share the same core values, namely those good old European values, which we sometimes forget about, but that here I have seen expressed through perspectives and cultural nuances that were new to me.
Now, right beside me, you see Éva and Mercédesz — two amazing colleagues with whom I shared not just numerous lunches, but also stories, laughs, and viewpoints. And of course Zoltán, head of the external relations office, a superb wine expert and excellent partner in culinary adventures.
And then, in the very foreground, there’s me. Only half in the frame, because it’s important to leave space for others, and also because some things are better kept just for yourself. There I am, with all my past experiences, my not-so-perfect English, and my endless curiosity to learn, connect, and share skills, knowledge, and ways of seeing the world.
Finally, lighting up the whole picture is the EDUC project. Without EDUC and the network of connections it fosters, none of this would have happened. Selfies are usually about showing yourself. But in this one, I’d rather stay off-center, because this picture is not really about me: it is, just like EDUC, about collaboration, and about the simple truth that a group is always more than the sum of its parts.
