01 Feb Connecting the dots: how the influences in my life have shaped me
Understanding how the Universe works is one of my obsessions. This is why I love mathematics, which investigates reality through physics. Contrary to what many believe, it is its rigorous logic that allows one to develop unlimited creativity in navigating its rules. As a mathematician, I admit to being a bit of a stickler. For instance, I was dissatisfied with the way physicists justified the first quark model in the 1960s, so I constructed a purely algebraic approach that could satisfy me and turned it into the first chapter of my bachelor’s thesis. The most interesting part of that work, however, was seeing how my supervisors collaborated to help me tackle some theoretical problems, making me realize that the number of textbooks memorized is not as important as the ability to search and retrieve the pieces you need to solve your puzzle. They have influenced me profoundly with their genuine passion and commitment, and it is mainly because of them that I love research, which not only serves to improve knowledge but sustains humanity in its challenges.
Thanks to my academic achievements and the encouragement of my friends, going abroad to complete my master’s studies at a top university was a dream come true, enabling me to meet students and professors from all over the world. Hearing their stories, confronting our beliefs and sharing our traditions has shaped my mindset forever. I am convinced that differences are a key ingredient to keep growing professionally and humanly.
Music to me is like the air I breathe: just as oxygen feeds our bodies, music nourishes my personality, especially through all the people I have been fortunate to play and study with. The director of the parish choir in my village, which I joined when I was fifteen, is the embodiment of inclusion, leadership and determination. Moreover, if there is one person who got her job right, it is my voice teacher: insanely well-prepared and empathetic, she makes me experience every week how singing is a mixture of psychology and physiology, a continuous introspective discovery. The more I supported the community with choir, experimented with strange vocal exercises, grew on stage with my rock band, the more I started seeing music as a way to connect individuals.
I think happiness is closely related to our ability to acknowledge and interact with our emotions, but how can we do this? I found the first concrete answer in the effectiveness of the techniques offered by Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). In addition to enhancing my serenity, this discipline has provided me with practical tools to also support others in dealing with their own feelings and challenges. A figure in this field who inspires me greatly is John Grinder, one of the founders of NLP. I attended seminars where he taught people from forty-six different countries and still found time to be precise, supportive and hungry for exploration. His extraordinary skills really show me where I can set the bar.
Yet, I would not be the person I am if it were not for my family and friends. When Europe was in lockdown because of COVID, I was abroad, with nowhere to live, during a worldwide pandemic and my master’s thesis to finish. Nevertheless, I was never discouraged, as my friends were there, ready to aid me. I love them so much, each for their own peculiarities.
Science, music, NLP are not just burning passions, they are all stitched together by common threads such as freedom, innovation and connection, which together with friendship make life worth living.
Emanuele