Anna Mirella Ardid Ciscar
A. Ardid Ciscar - Realizzare un sogno e cambiare la propria vita ritornando a studiare
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Anna, 30, who obtained a Bachelor's degree in Social Work in 2024, tells how, after losing her job as a flight attendant during the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to go back to studying to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a social worker.
What is your current occupation? Is it what you've always wanted to do?
​â¶Ä‹â€‹â¶Ä‹â€‹â¶Ä‹â€‹I work as a cantonal social worker; for me it's not just a job, it's a mission in life. Working for the reintegration of migrants into the labor market is not only what I do, but what I have always dreamed of doing. It's a passion that stems from my personal history, being a migrant myself: I understand some of their struggles and I try to make a difference every day.
Why did you choose to study at university? And why, in particular, the Bachelor of Social Work?
​â¶Ä‹My life changed drastically during the pandemic, when I was working as a flight attendant in Germany. After the mass layoffs in the airline industry, I decided it was time to pursue a dream that had been on the back burner for too long. Becoming a social worker was my goal, but I thought it was a step backwards to stop working and go back to studying.
In reality it was one of the best decisions of my life, made possible by an event that turned the world upside down. And ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ gave me the chance to realize this dream.
Which aspects of your training have been most useful for your profession?
​â¶Ä‹The internships in the area were fundamental. Coming from another country, I didn't know the local services network and thanks to these experiences I was able to immerse myself in the reality and understand it in depth.
But that's not all: the training changed the way I see the world. I already had a strong sense of social justice, but I didn't fully understand the root causes of the fragility I saw around me. Empirical theories and socio-political knowledge gave me the tools to act with awareness and passion
What advice would you give to those who want to follow in your footsteps / your profession?
​â¶Ä‹You don't study for an exam, you study to listen without judging, to understand the life stories hidden behind every glance.
You don't study for an exam, you study to defend the rights of the most vulnerable people and to promote their autonomy.
You don't study for an exam, you study to collaborate with other professionals in the search for the common good.
Starting out on this path isn't easy, especially if, like me, you also work at the same time. I've spent evenings, weekends and moments of infinite tiredness. But what allowed me to succeed was the network of people who supported and encouraged me. Don't be afraid to ask for help: it's often the first step to building a strong network, also for your professional future.