Chapter I: Stream of Consciousness

Throughout my life, I’ve embarked on numerous ventures. Some I’ve tackled with remarkable success, while others have remained unresolved. My mind operates on a hierarchy of priorities: those of utmost importance and the ancillary pursuits. My primary focus has always been keen to the normal way of living - first school, then university, and now my career. I consider myself fairly typical, albeit with a touch of ADHD, which drives my curiosity to experiment with new experiences.

My thoughts race ahead of my words, often making sustained, rational conversation a challenge. My internal monologue resembles a "stream of consciousness." You might recognize this term from English literature; it brings to mind the iconic writer James Joyce. I recall studying his works in school, where my English teacher’s enthusiasm for his writing style was infectious. Although I struggled to comprehend Joyce’s prose, I resonated with his thought process. Case in point: how did I jump from discussing my life’s endeavors to mentioning James Joyce?

Speaking of my English teacher, she had a fascinating birthday—February 29th, a date celebrated every four years thanks to Julius Caesar's calendar reform in 45 BCE. It's intriguing how the Romans were already addressing the discrepancy between the calendar and the solar year.

During high school in Italy, I was required to study Latin, despite attending a Scientific Studies High School (Liceo Scientifico). My Latin professor was excellent, but my passion was for mathematics, not Latin. The curriculum divided Latin into Literature and Translation, and it was the translation aspect that challenged me. They claim that translating Latin is akin to solving mathematical problems, but I excelled in math and not Latin.

Over time, I've come to appreciate these seemingly impractical subjects like Latin, Philosophy, Art History, and various literatures. They’ve broadened my perspective and shaped who I am today. Living in multiple countries and engaging with people from diverse backgrounds, I’ve noticed a stark contrast when meeting individuals from progressive countries like Canada or Sweden. Despite their proficiency in coding, personal finance, or mathematics, they often seemed to lack depth in other areas of conversation. I used to wonder why the Italian education system couldn’t emulate those progressive models, but I’ve since realized that my unique journey has its merits, and I should be grateful for it.

Writing offers a wonderful outlet for my thoughts, even if they don't always follow a linear path. I hope this reflection resonates in some way. I leave you with this thinking: should we really forsake the creativity and wisdom of countless generations before us in favor of rigid numbers and concepts?

I’d love to hear your perspective.

Ciao.