by Gabriel Brolli

When Daniela Uribe left her Engineering course in Mexico, she wasn’t lost but on the verge of discovery. Swapping textbooks on renewable energy for the buzz of Milanese streets and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Management, the 24-year-old brought with her bold personality, curiosity, and a phone that was always at the ready Now, she’s not just studying media – she’s living it.

Whenever you see Daniela Uribe, 24, walking through Milan, you can bet she’s either making new friends or has a phone in her right hand – producing content for social media. Always smiling or making others smile, it’s hard to picture her studying something as analytical and rigidly structured as Engineering in Renewable Energies.
In fact, after one year, she decided not to continue the course in Mexico and started asking herself what the next step would be. At the time, Santiago de Querétaro seemed too small for her dream: “to travel, work remotely, and meet new people, cultures, and cuisines.”

Inspired by her earlier experience as an au pair in Conversano, a small city in the south of Italy, and encouraged by her father, she explored international study options. 

She got in contact with local agencies in Mexico and discovered that, thanks to scholarships offered by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, the tuition fees would be almost the same. That’s how she ended up enrolling in the Bachelor’s in Communication Management at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. In her bag, she brought “attitude and personality.” She says Italians are not as used to expressive people: “So I think I brought a little bit of sparkle.”

Even though it might seem like a smooth journey of finally finding what she wanted, Daniela’s move to Milan wasn’t without hurdles. She remembers the small struggles vividly: “I don’t like to remember this, but I didn't even know how to wash my laundry properly,” she recalls, remembering how her first white load turned blue from mixing fabrics.

University life, too, has been a discovery. “In university, I discovered that I was really good with content creation. My personality fits so well on camera – it gets people to engage with the videos,” she explains. “And I discovered that I'm really good at reading people, and that I can apply that understanding.” Her studies, which blend marketing, sociology, and social psychology, have helped her make sense of that talent. “We’re really focused on how consumers think,” she says, with a spark of enthusiasm.

Reflecting on her academic journey, Daniela sees her time at Università Cattolica as a turning point. “University here has always been pretty exciting,” she says. “My first university experience was very different – I was 19. When I started here, I was almost 22 years old. I really think age matters when it comes to studying.”

So, what advice would Daniela give to international students considering a leap like hers? “Learn the language,” she says, without hesitation. “I’ve seen a real difference between those who speak Italian and those who don’t. Knowing the language helped me connect, integrate, and feel at home here.” For her, language was the gateway to confidence and opportunity. “You can always learn it once you arrive, but if you come prepared, everything flows better.” Her journey proves that bold moves, backed by preparation and a touch of sparkle, can turn dreams into reality.