I always wanted to become a doctor, and my parents dream was to see me one as well. When I got into my A/Ls class, I could not commit myself fully to achieve that goal like my classmates who got into medical faculty, I was only a dreamer who wasn’t motivated enough, in the end I couldn’t get the 3As, required to enter a medical faculty in a local university.

I spent hours on the internet searching for a way, a way to get myself a medical degree. At first I thought of going to Belarus or Russia, mostly because the tuition fees in those countries were quite low, and I really didn’t want to be a burden to my family, so I wanted to move to a country where I can earn a living and be independent.

But soon I learnt that, it was not only illegal, even if I manage to find work in Russia or Belarus, that money will not be enough to cover even the living expenses. Even countries like Australia, USA, UK and Canada, didn’t seem like a good options at that time because of the high tuition fee. I was very close to give up all hope until I found about what Italy had to offer, that’s when I knew I found the best option, the best country to study medicine in.

I found about Italian medical schools a week before the deadline of the application procedure, I had so little time to prepare for the exam or to do my research on the universities that offered the course in English. So blindly I chose Naples as my first choice, and got selected to my University, University of Campania, the only university in Naples that had English medical courses available at the time.

If I have to describe in three words how my student life in Naples was: Gritty, Chaotic and Beautiful. If you ask someone who had been there or lives there, they will definitely let you know why these three words are the best fit. Naples is located in the southern Italy bordered by Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano that turns Pompeii a Roman town into ruins thousands of years ago.

This City is often referred to as the soul of Italy because of its long historical background and the significant effects it had on the country. Even though I didn’t notice it at first, after living here for seven years, I realized how it affected me. I find myself deeply connected to the city, the warm hospitality of the locals and the amazing friendships that were built as the years went past, that I cherish for the rest of my life. Most importantly the knowledge I acquired of foreign cultures by connecting with people from all over the world, made me open my eyes, and to appreciate life more than ever. For that I owe so much to Naples.