“I chose this course because I wanted to follow my vocation”

“I have high hopes for the UAB and I think it can offer me a great deal”.

Alba is looking to get the most out of her time at university. Because of the distance to her home town of Figueres, she has decided to look for a flat in the UAB area. In fact she took this decision a while back, when she made her mind up to commit herself passionately to university, with the same passion she feels for the books that she loves reading.

What made you pick this degree?
Spanish literature has been my vocation ever since I was little. I've always liked to be surrounded by books, and visit the library. In fact my father studied the same subject: it's sort of a family tradition.

So you made up your mind a long time ago?
Well, actually I did think about doing Law too. I was thinking about it for a long time, mainly because of the career opportunities, but in the end I put my foot down. I told myself: Alba, you've got to do what you really want to do. If you do that something will come up sooner or later.

What do you hope to get out of this course?
I hope to learn a lot, especially about literature, which is my favourite part. I hope it will help me to mature as a person and get to know a lot of other people.

Starting on this course means starting a new life in your case. What's your impression at this point?
I think moving away from home to study right next-door to Barcelona has to make you grow as a person. I think I'll benefit personally not just from taking this degree but from everything else that is going on around me.

What made you choose the UAB?
I've been sure for a while that I wanted to come to Barcelona, to the UAB. I think coming to such a big university will make me try even harder to achieve all my goals. At the very least I'll be putting myself to the test. As well as that, the Autònoma has a good reputation as far as my degree is concerned, and I noticed it was number one in Spain on one of the rankings.

Now you've had a look around, what do you think of the campus?
I think the campus atmosphere and the natural surroundings are ideal for me to feel comfortable. It reminds you of a typical American university campus and I think I'm going to get a lot out of being here.

It's too soon to ask this question, but how do you see yourself in the future?
I'm taking Spanish Language and Literature so I'm pretty sure I'll end up in teaching.

And if we asked you what your dream was?
My dream is to become a university lecturer in Spanish Literature some day. I know this is ambitious. University lecturers are obviously very highly trained and I have a lot to learn but I hope one day to be one of them.