Why do I go to school? Observations from the Italian team

Details: Created on Wednesday, 21 September 2016 17:35; Written by italy

CULTURE: THE MOST INTERESTING AND REMARKABLE QUALITY OF A PERSON

by Ester Previato

Since I was a child, I have always loved to go to school. When I was at primary school I considered all my classes and lessons as a game, and everything was funny and easy for me. Since then, subjects have become more and more difficult every year I spent in my school, and every day I understand how many hours of study I have to do in order to get good marks. Nevertheless, if I had to choose my school again, I would probably decide to go to the same high school I’m attending now, or in any case, in a school in which you must study as much as in my institute. Studying is one of my favourite hobbies, and in my dreams it will become my future occupation: I would like to work in scientific or philosophic research, spending my time studying and trying to understand more about the world and the human mind. So this is the most important reason which explains my love for studying: culture. I strongly believe everything you learn in your life makes you more mature and more open-minded, and this is an important and usually necessary characteristic you must have for relating well with people. Furthermore, the more you study the more your critical sense improves, which is an extraordinary skill that is really esteemed in a person, principally in work experiences.

In my opinion, culture, both scientific and literary, is a strong point of someone’s personality. I consider it the most interesting and remarkable quality of a person. Culture can make you interesting, clever, smart, it also allows you to become more sensible, which is fundamental in situations in which you have to make up your mind quickly. But the most fascinating aspect of culture is its capacity to make you more sensible and more sympathetic. School prepares students to study or to work, but it’s really mortifying to be a great engineer but as profound as a puddle. First of all, everyone of us is a human being who has got a sensitivity, a nature that they cannot deny and which must be expressed and nurtured. Culture, school and education teach you how to become a worker, a citizen of your nation, but firstly they make you an honest, refined and polite person. This is why I go to school, this is why I love to go to school. And nothing will persuade me to abandon my books.

GOING TO SCHOOL CAN ALSO BE FUNNY AND INTRIGUING

by Egle Callegaro

Why do I go to school? I have thought a lot about this question. However I can’t exactly say why. When I was younger I had to make a decision for my future and even if I didn’t really know what I was going to choose, I needed to go to school for my future life. Later, growing up, Iunderstood that sharing experiences in a class with other studentsis fundamental for creating the person you are. Living with other people six days a week is necessary, you can make friends and you learn how to work in a team. I think that this is one of the great things about the Italian school system. Indeed, you don’t generally change your classmates. In any case I didn’t leave school because I believe that it is necessary if I want a good job. Without a degree it is hard to enter the job market. So if I want to be employed I have to study, it’s logical.But I don’t go to school only for getting a post; I’ve learned with the passing of time that it can also be funny and intriguing. I will never regret my choice.

I’m in the last year of a scientific high school, so it’s all focused on Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. I’ve been alternating academic lessons with laboratory , so I’ve gained a quite long experience and this is an advantage for me. Anyway ,the Italian school system is rather different from other European systems. We usually go to school six days a week (yes, also on Saturdays) and only in the morning: it is quite strange to go to school in the afternoon. I’m quite proud of our skills and knowledge, indeed we really go deep into lots of topics and Italian researchers are famous all over the world! Another important point is about tests: we don’t have only specific periods in which students take exams, but we can have oral tests every week: this way we need to be always prepared.

As for my future job, I have no idea of what my employment will be. I know that after high school I’ll go to University but I’m not sure if I will enroll after my final exams. I might decide to join civil service and go to Africa. My wish is to study interpretation and translation at University and maybe find a job in which I can help other people.

Now I can say that the most relevant reason I go to school is for creating my future. It can seem boring and worthless ( most of the time) but you really need culture and knowledge in your life, as Dante said : “you were not made to live as brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge.” (Inferno, canto XXVI)

HOW CAN SCHOOL HELP ME WITH MY FUTURE JOB?

by Annalisa Acampora

Since I was a child my dream was to become a surgeon. I’m really interested in Anatomy and everything related with blood and organs. I’m curious about our body. I know that it may sound strange and pretty mad but that’s the truth and now that I’m about to finish high school, I understand that it’s time to roll up my sleeves and work hard to reach my goal.

But how can my school help me to reach it and get my dream job in the future?

It’s necessary to say that I go to a school which is specific for those who want to go to University and attend a scientific course of study like Medicine, Engineering or Physics.

In Italy if you don’t get a degree you can’t find a good job and you aren’t be able to have an acceptable life.

My school’s timetable is full of Maths, Science and Physics lessons; we also have activity in Lab. This school gives us a complete preparation for University, we have all the skills for every course in the scientific field.

Everything sounds great but I must say that it’s really hard work, full of sacrifices. I really hope to become what I want to be even if I know that it is a very long and full of obstacles course of studies, but I also know that I can do it if I want.

Fortunately, my family and all my friends support me so I’m really positive about my future and highly motivated. I won't give up if things go wrong or if I fail an exam; I’ll work harder next time to pass it because I’m aware that things can’t always go the right way, it’s so nonrealistic. I think that sometimes we need to fall and touch the bottom to climb up again stronger and more motivated than before . My school has taught also this to us: fall but stand up immediately.

I have to say that school isn’t only study, marks and exams, but it’s also made of relations with our peers and adults. We understand how to live with people from different countries and different religions. School gives us also the chance to travel, visit cities like London or Amsterdam, meet people and discover many traditions and cultures.

School helps us face real problems of life and understand others.