by Gabriel Brolli

Emmanuel Pomata had to cut deep roots before moving abroad. It hasn’t always been easy, but through journaling, learning Italian with laughter, and visiting new places, Emmanuel has managed to call a city on the other side of his world “home.”

When you’re talking to high school students about their aspirations, they’ll probably mention studying abroad. Living life overseas – even for a short period of time – is a huge thing for teenagers. It has to do with independence, living away from your family’s judgement, visiting new places, getting to know cultures, different languages, and people who were raised in a totally different background than you.

Even though Emmanuel Pomata had this dream, it’s harder when you grow up and realise you have “a family full of love.” He feels that, beneath their encouragement, his parents didn’t want him to go abroad. 

“My mum and dad were always my best friends. I would always do everything with them. I think from an emotional point of view, they wanted me to stay. I think that's normal when you grow up in a family like that.”

But despite the closeness, Emmanuel took a leap. Now 20 years old, he’s in his third  year of a Bachelor’s in Economics and Management at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan. “I had always looked forward to visiting Italy. It’s the country  I have always dreamed of,” he says. Even more special? “My mom’s dream w

s always to study abroad, so she told me that by coming, I was also fulfilling her dream at the same time.”  
Coming from Paraguay, Emmanuel felt the weight and the privilege of the opportunity. “Paraguay isn’t the easiest place to access international education,” he says. “There’s an enormous economic disparity. I’m insanely happy and super thankful to my parents and my brother for helping me make this possible.”

Adjusting wasn’t immediate. “I thought I would be settled from the beginning but finding my place emotionally and socially took me a while.” Journaling helped me. “I’ve been writing since high school. It helped me insanely much.”

So did learning to embrace discomfort. “At first, I didn’t know anyone here. I really pushed myself to get out of my comfort zone. I wanted to avoid being around people from my country, so I could improve my English and Italian.”

Now he’s thriving in Milan’s multicultural environment. “What I love the most is how international it is. I’m the only Paraguayan in my course, and fewer than eight students are Spanish speaking. You learn things from people and cultures that you’d never get from books.”

For future students? “Don’t compare yourself to others. Focus on what makes you happy. Everyone has a different way of learning, of being productive and feeling alive.”

His message to his first-year self? “Take everything calmly. Be present. Keep fighting. Most of the time, when you're having a bad day, it’s just your head playing against you. And speak Italian, even if you must laugh at yourself to do it!”