Federica Pellegrini addressed one thousand graduates as the guest of honour of the Ca’ Foscari University degree ceremony in St. Mark’s Square on Thursday.
Rainfall and Rising Tides in Venice
Piazza San Marco filled with colorful umbrellas and high water lapping at the paving stones as the ceremony opened under pouring rain, iO Donna reported. The swimmer joked about the adverse weather from the stage alongside university officials.
«Ho portato l’acqua, ma una nuotatrice non poteva fare altrimenti», said Federica Pellegrini, as quoted by iO Donna.
Reflections From a Career in the Pool
Pellegrini looked back at her own journey from a young athlete in Spinea to winning a silver medal in the 200 meter freestyle at the 2004 Athens Olympics at age 16, becoming the youngest Italian individual Olympic medalist, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported.
She told the crowd that high-level sport taught her the dangers of unchecked drive. Ambition without self-awareness becomes a trap, she explained.
«Per tantissimi anni ho misurato il mio successo in decimi di secondo. Sapete quanto dura un decimo di secondo? Un battito di ciglia. Il tocco sulla piastra si decideva per un battito di ciglia», Pellegrini told iO Donna.
Building Bridges and Critical Thought
Rector Marco Sgarbi opened the proceedings by urging graduates to look beyond a divided world. He reminded them that Venice stands as a historic city of bridges connecting diverse cultures, ANSA reported.
Paola Mar spoke on behalf of the municipal administration to emphasize the importance of critical thinking and human empathy in digital environments, VeneziaToday reported.
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Filippo Pagotto addressed his peers on behalf of top economics graduates, encouraging them to take responsibilities seriously across all societal roles, VeneziaToday reported.
Writing Personal Histories
Pellegrini closed her remarks by advising the new graduates to embrace unexpected turns in their lives. She said that professional trajectories rarely follow straight lines.
«Oggi avete conquistato un titolo importantissimo, ma da domani avrete la possibilità di costruire qualcosa di ancora più grande, la vostra storia. Scrivetela con ambizione, passione e coraggio, ma soprattutto a modo vostro», Pellegrini told ANSA.
Worth a look
