I am Pietro Borsetta, 18 years old, student at Liceo Scientifico Statale “Salvador Allende” in Milan. Since I got my hands on an old atlas as a youngster, I have been fascinated by diversity of places, society organizations, and life-style of human beings, thinking several times how much will be important to understand that diversity, start to open a dialogue with people from other Countries, with the common goal to live together reducing conflicts and discord. This is the reason of my application to Chinese Undergraduate Degree program. “What is the mission of politicians to reduce conflicts? What is the impact of certain political decisions in a given country’s social life? How I could find things in common with people from countries and cultures (apparently) far from mine like Chinese one?” Those are just some of the questions that I constantly pose to myself during the past few years of my secondary school. Trying to find some answers to that questions and satisfying my curiosity about different life style, culture and society I participated to Intercultura – A.F.S. Program spending 1 year in China, living in a Chinese family and studying Chinese language in High School affiliated to the Anhui Normal University in Wuhu (People’s Republic of China). With Intercultura – A.F.S. I was given the special privilege to enter in the Chinese society with same rights and duties of Chinese 16year’s boy like me, living in family with my Chinese “brother” (now one of my best friend) and discovering every moment how differences about language and culture can be overcome working together, open a dialogue, engage each other in a continuous game where the pleasure to find lots of in common things (same feelings, same approach and - sometime, also - same anxiety), will be the best prize for everyone effort and patience. While concentrating on daily Chinese language school, I continued with my love for other subjects of social science and have tried, attending optional courses (about theatre, calligraphy), translating an historical Chinese novel (never published in Italian), and chatting with old people in the market or countryside to broaden my overall horizon by venturing into sociology, Chinese history and philosophy. Speaking with several people and also with my Chinese teachers I perceived a great enthusiasm for economic development, but also many concerns about social and economic issues such as unemployment, social competitiveness, the rule of political reform for ethnic minority and modernization of rural areas.

Under such circumstances, it is easy to comprehend how excited I am when I discover that the Chinese Undergraduate Degree program could allow me to combine my interest in Asian culture and my professional knowledge. As early as my middle school education, I have developed a strong interest in social studies and have demonstrated a correspondingly outstanding performance in humanity matters (history and philosophy), now it is important for me to acquire the necessary academic foundation whereby to work to my bridge-building contribution in a political scenario everyday more complex and sometimes unbalanced between rich-poor polarity.

Outside of school, I keep myself involved in the social areas that interest me, reading my favorite magazine “Internazionale” (international collection of articles about politics and economy monthly magazine published in Italy), organizing interactive discussion groups about political items as Rover in my Scout group. I strive to maintain a healthy balance between my intellectual interests and my hobbies, setting aside time for my personal fitness playing soccer in a local team with my schoolmates (together from elementary school) and water polo with another small team, always as gatekeeper. I love also to spend free time with my friends and thanks to one of them, in 2016 I’ve found a nice Summer job, as Swimming pool Lifeguard within the Sporting Centre of Italian Air Force in the Milano Linate Airport, where enjoyed to chat with some pilots relaxing in the pool during their pause. I like water sport and I’m going to upgrade my Lifeguard certificate for open sea.

I like every kind of sport and I hope I can join your University team. In addition, I would like to experiment the college life, even if I have a great curiosity toward Chinese language and culture and I’m sure I would love also to stay in a Chinese family.

The prospect of studying the fundamental disciplines of social sciences (history, law, economics, sociology and political science) with a multidisciplinary approach truly excites me and I look forward that my application will be favorably considered.