Since high school, I’ve always wanted to be financially independent. There was something special about being able to make my own choices without having to rely on anyone a sense of freedom that fascinated me ever since my father started giving me my first weekly allowance of €20 during my first year of high school. Each week, I tried to save a little, setting aside small amounts to afford something bigger or treat myself without asking for help. The pursuit of this small taste of freedom always motivated me in the years that followed. In fact, I tried countless things to chase it, some of which I’ll share in this blog.

After completing the exams for my Bachelor's degree in Management Engineering in July 2022, I knew the official graduation ceremony wouldn’t take place until the end of October. I asked myself, “What can I do during these months before starting my Master’s?” I wanted to do something meaningful not just to fill the time but to start building experience and gain even more independence. So, I threw myself into job interviews with the goal of finding an internship that would be truly educational, both for the studies I had just finished and for the Master’s program I was about to begin.

I started out with high hopes, attending my first interviews – with Tinexta and then Alten – but they didn’t go well. On top of that, they were consulting firms, and at the time, I didn’t even know what consulting really meant. I found myself feeling disappointed, but I didn’t let it discourage me and kept searching on LinkedIn, determined to find something that genuinely appealed to me. I even gave it a shot as an assistant to a Store Manager at an eyewear shop, Salmoiraghi & Viganò, on Via Cola di Rienzo here in Rome. However, when they offered me €300 a month with only one week off in August, I knew it wasn’t the right path especially since nothing in the world could make me give up my beloved summer by the sea.

After a couple of weeks, while browsing LinkedIn, I came across an opportunity as an SAP Consultant at Atos. I had no idea what Atos or SAP were, so I started doing some online research to figure it out. They were specifically looking for industrial engineers and required fluent English which wasn’t exactly my strong suit. For that reason, I initially decided not to apply. Later, encouraged by my brother, I decided to send in my CV, and to my surprise, after three interviews, I was offered a six-month internship. This is where things got interesting. Everything changed not only because I hadn’t planned on starting a job in September, but also because my goal was to find a summer internship, not one so long-term. It clashed with my plans to begin my master’s degree.

I accepted the internship without a second thought, excited about the opportunity that had come my way. This happened just before I left for my interrail trip, an unforgettable journey with my friends to celebrate the end of my bachelor’s degree a story I’ll share in detail in a dedicated blog post. Even though my adventure hadn’t officially started yet, my parents were worried about me taking on a job. For them, it was crucial that I finish my studies, and working would mean I wouldn’t be able to attend lectures. However, my stubbornness took over: whenever someone tells me I can’t do something, I feel an urge to prove them wrong. I thought to myself, "Why not give these six months a shot and see how it goes? Let’s see if I can keep up this pace." With that mindset, I decided to take on both challenges at once. I also reassured myself that if things didn’t work out, I could always focus solely on my master’s degree after the internship. After all, nothing is ever irreversible. And so, I began juggling both commitments.

During this experience, I realized that life is often driven by chance by things that go wrong and others that turn out well, sometimes with a bit of luck. If my brother hadn’t said, “Send the résumé, what do you have to lose? At worst, they’ll say no,” I wouldn’t be here writing about how my career journey began. Opportunities often show up unexpectedly, even while we’re looking for something entirely different. It’s up to us to recognize and seize them. Being ready to jump on the “train” even when circumstances don’t seem ideal is key. I’ve learned that following your instincts and listening to yourself can lead to unexpected results. At the same time, it’s just as important to question yourself and take genuine advice from others to heart.