We wanted to tell the story of Andrea, which links him to Federico Pagliara, between the United States and the new adventure in England. As always, we contacted him for information and details, with the aim of writing our in-depth analysis. In the end, however, his spontaneous words convinced us and we decided to let him tell us his story, his experience and above all his emotions. We publish, as we received it, the full text of the email sent to our press office.
This is what our kids are experiencing. In the words of Andrea Maggio.
“When I was in America, during the end of my senior year semester and therefore close to graduation, I received a message from a friend, Federico Pagliara, who at the time was a men’s and women’s volleyball coach at Northumbria University in Newcastle. We spoke on the phone, and he suggested that I go to England to do a master’s degree and play for the University team with a sports scholarship through volleyball. Same path I was doing in the United States of America, but in England.
When I received the proposal I was hesitant, I liked America, it was good. I remember that period for me was really difficult, confusing. I was constantly asking family and friends for their opinion on what was best to do. In the meantime, I had the national finals to prepare for and then play them, the last exams at university to do, prepare for graduation, and all I could think about was what I was going to do after I graduated, and in America at that pace it’s hard to find the time to even think.
I wanted to keep shooting, I didn’t want to stay in the same place where I had been for four years. I wanted to change, not that I hadn’t been well, quite the contrary.
I started sending resumes around America with the hope of getting a job, in the meantime I was always thinking about England and the idea teased me more and more, and I thought and thought about what I had to do. I had found a job in America, even in a beautiful place that many would envy.
But inside I felt that the desire to continue studying and playing was too much, to grow, visit new places, and have new experiences.
So one day I made up my mind, I called Federico and I told him “Faith, I accept, I want to come there”.
Today I find myself just a few days away from leaving for Newcastle, where I have been accepted into their renowned Business School where I will go to do a Master’s degree in International Business Management. On the volleyball side, on the other hand, teammates from all over the world will be waiting for me, players of a certain level, and a good championship that apparently will be quite challenging. I can’t wait.
I thank my family and friends who have been close to me and supported me even at all those miles away in these last four years, to all the friends from all over the world that I have met in America and that I will always carry with me, to Sportlinx that has given me the opportunity to live the most beautiful experience of my life, and to those who gave me the opportunity to be able to start this new adventure.
America has given me a lot, it has made me grow a lot and it has shaped me. I lived the best “American Dream” I could ever wish to live.
Tomorrow I’ll go back to America, who knows, but for now I want to enjoy other dreams.”
