Viola Albertinazzi: Doing your part, even from home

Viola Albertinazzi is a first-year student enrolled in the Single-Cycle Master's Degree Program in Law. Her dream was to attend Luiss: “Rome seemed to me a city brimming with opportunities, both personally and professionally.”

Viola is actively involved in volunteer work with the Luiss branch of the Community of Sant'Egidio. Even during the COVID-19 crisis, she has been preparing meals for the homeless: “Right now, I'm in cook mode and I'm doing everything from home. I prepare the meals, which are then picked up and delivered to those in need in the Verano and Policlinico areas." During this unique time, the Luiss student also takes on the task of calling the elderly to ensure they have everything they need. “On Mondays, I call seniors who are celebrating their birthdays and chat with them to keep them company. It's not always easy because some of them have a difficult relationship with the phone, but they're usually happy to share what they're doing,” she says.

“Luiss is a university where open-mindedness is a core value. Helping the poor and those in situations vastly different from your own allows you to get to know others, gain self-awareness, and broaden your horizons." Viola recommends that all students dedicate their time to activities like this because “it's a personal experience that gives so much back. But you have to feel it: when the desire to help others comes from deep within, it's easier to follow the path,” she explains. The student also says she has built a very strong bond with the people she helps: “They often give me poems and drawings. My closet is full of their gifts.”

Viola's fondest memory was meeting with the General Director, Giovanni Lo Storto, and the Luiss leadership in Classroom 200: “It's a moment that's etched in my memory. The Director General's message was truly motivational. I could feel the vibe of this university, the drive to get things done, and I felt welcomed.” Luiss serves as a key point of reference for all out-of-town students in a city as large as Rome, offering a wealth of experiences. Among these, Viola fondly recalls the conference organized by the LEP student association on women in professional careers: “The guests included a judge, a prosecutor, and a lawyer. They shared with us what it's like to reach such a prominent position and what it means to be a woman in this environment and at this level of society,” she says.

In the future, Viola would like to become a judge, but she wouldn't mind pursuing an international career to interact with different cultures and people.