As I walk through the city of Macerata, Italy, I am surrounded by glimpses of classical architecture, old trade routes and centuries of knowledge that I recall having only dreamt of. The reality of it is something I thought to be in the far distance, something inconceivable and too large for me to be a part of. I remember the tireless nights spent revising for my A levels, the numerous emails sent to my teachers and finally, the daunting results day that I so very much loathed. To my surprise, I managed to achieve grades far beyond my expectations, and so I, Mikayla Bayat, began 2026 with a new found hope to continue my studies abroad.
It was only after I arrived in Italy that I began to appreciate my high school years and the tireless commitments of my teachers that have allowed me to believe in what I was capable of. To my A-level English teacher, Mrs.Nzimande, I am particularly indebted to. Her patience and insights helped me formulate skills that I still use today in my chosen International and European Comparative legal studies course. These skills are timeless demonstrations on how dedicated teachers create generations of people who are able to critically engage with the world around them. Nova Pioneer had no shortage of such teachers, all of whom possessed inspiring personalities that remain unique from what I had experienced in my short educational history. Nova Pioneer was essential to my personal development.
While there were difficult times in which I did not appreciate the environment and what it offered, the world I find myself in today reminds me of what I took for granted and I can now look back on it with the solemn appreciation of the school that shaped me. I am humbled by the privilege I have to study on full scholarship at the University of Macerata. Being a University founded in 1290 dedicated to the Humanities and Social Sciences, its focus on what I find to be the cornerstone of human history, is nothing short of inspiring. I hope to develop the leadership foundations I gained from Nova Pioneer into something impactful through my university studies, especially in the complicated world we find ourselves in today.
To my teachers and fellow classmates whom I once shared a piece of me with, thank you for the lessons and inspirations you have offered me. To those whose dreams feel too far away to reach, know that it is achievable.
Give yourself grace through all tribulations and let it happen.
