Enrica: “We are university students, we are present and future, don’t forget us!”

Dear University, sorry!

Dear University,

now we have known each other for five years, unfortunately we will soon break up, my journey has almost come to an end and I believe that the only ones happy with all this are my parents, who during this time have felt a bit annoyed towards you, because sometimes you have demanded a little too much, like a child who when toys, he wants to buy something at all costs and starts having a tantrum. And you in the same way, you also wanted that extra penny, cost him sweat and effort.

But, dear University, I am sure that they will forgive you for this, when they see me happy at the end of my journey and they will be able to ask you for “sorry” for not understanding and not trusting you. But I want to ask you “sorry” now, because very often I have behaved badly towards you and I have used not very nice words, but only now I understand that it was not, it is not (and surely) it will not be your fault.

We haven’t seen each other for about a year now, these months have been very difficult, I felt weak, abandoned, without any stimulus. Suddenly everything became so rarefied, so far from my habits and normality, but I realized how beautiful and precious the word “normality” is and above all how much I miss you.

Parallel to me and my insecurities, there was you, dear University, which is so alone and left to yourself, you couldn’t do anything. I know for a fact that you would have wanted to reach out to me, help me and support me, I know that the days when I was taking an online exam and the connection could have jumped at any moment, you would have wanted to do something to give me peace of mind, with your classrooms , with your spaces, you would have liked to hold out your hand, but unfortunately you have not been granted.

You tried to scream with all of yourself, but no one listened to you and I didn’t know how to do anything to give you a voice, on the contrary I just blamed you for the blame you don’t deserve, because it’s you, dear University, the one who gave me the opportunity of to have a purpose in this society.

An important part of my life will end with you, because it is only your merit that I have become more aware of my abilities and who I am. You also gave me Erasmus, to date one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had and with it also some fantastic people that I always carry with me, not to mention human relationships which, paradoxically, I created thanks to you and your mood swings, because you too had your bad days and contributed to the overlapping of lessons, sudden changes of schedules, races between one location and another.

But despite this, I I ask you “sorry” for not having valued you, for not having defended you, for not having supported you. I should have screamed louder with you, maybe someone would have heard us and would have given us space, dear University, probably someone would have remembered you and me, how fundamental our bond is for this country.

But maybe we still have time, let’s shout it now, dear University, hoping that someone will hear us: “We are young, we are university students, we are present and future of this society, do not forget us!”. Here, yet another attempt, maybe someone will hear this cry, in the meantime I ask you “sorry” dear University, just as I ask “sorry” to Italy, but if no one hears me, I will be forced to go away, where perhaps someone will notice this noise and will be ready to listen to me and look at me with different eyes.

Enrica, University of Florence

You can send your letter to the school at the following address: [email protected]. The letters are published in the special Dear School, I am writing to you …