Changes in my place of study

 

Unlike other universities, the curriculum of my career has a rather critical approach. This means that it  questions the dominant methodologies that do not seek a significant change in society, but turn the profession into a cog in the system. For this reason, Social Work at the University of Chile prioritizes research in order to develop good practice. This conception of social work is what I like most about my career and at the moment I would not change it.

During the pandemic all courses were online. Today some courses that aim to teach students how to write academically are still taught online, but the professors do not give presentations at a distance, they write e-mails with the instructions for the activities. The distance between professors and students that these dynamics generate makes learning difficult and that is why I would reinstate these courses to the face-to-face modality.

Regarding the facilities of the faculty, it can be pointed out that we do not have a place to eat that protects us from the cold or heat, there are very few microwaves and when it rains there are many leaks. Also some rooms are very small in proportion to the number of students. The classes held in the computer labs do not have enough computers for all students, so we are divided into two rooms and those who do not arrive on time to the room where the teacher is, must watch the class in a place where a video and audio is projected. This real distance facilitates lack of concentration and makes learning difficult. The infrastructure is quite precarious compared to other faculties with higher incomes. I would change that without a doubt.

Traveling back in time to say goodbye

 

If I could travel back in time I would choose to travel eight years into the past. Eight years ago, when I was fourteen years old, I lived with my mom, grandfather and brother. My grandfather was a very cheerful man, always singing and smiling. He used to read a lot and was very wise. He was also his grandchildren's playmate and loved to play sports. He used to worry excessively about us, but he did not like us to know his problems and enjoyed his independence.

In the winter of 2015 my grandfather became ill. I remember he was having difficulty breathing and every week my mother and uncle would go with him to the hospital. One morning like any other, my grandfather was getting ready to go to the hospital and we were getting ready for school, but that day he looked much more tired. As I ate breakfast, I heard my grandfather coming down the stairs with great difficulty. When he finished the stairs, a cardiorespiratory arrest took his life. I was very scared and my mother told me "get in the car, I will take them to school and then we will go to the hospital". I ran to the car, then my brother got in and my mom followed him, but she closed the door and started the car. I thought he was going in the car with us and I didn't say goodbye to him.  My uncle stayed in the car trying to revive him, but it was too late. If I could go back in time, I would go back to the day I didn't get to say goodbye to my grandfather and give him an eternal hug.

My best concert

 

My best concert was last year at the Renca hill. I remember that this show took place on a spring day, because when we climbed the hill I could not stop admiring the flowery meadows that led us to the viewpoint where The Bridget Orchestra  performed.  The Bridget Orchestra is a Chilean group formed by musicians from Conchalí in 2017 that is characterized by mixing jazz, rap, classical music and film music. The Bridget Orchestra  doesn’t usually perform massive concerts, but seeks intimate encounters to connect with the audience and this concert was no exception.

The concert was held in a lookout that was illuminated by small lights that looked like fireflies. Behind the stage, where the artists performed their jazz songs, you could see the sunset and how little by little the houses all over the city lit up the night.  All this, the jazz and the accompanying music created a very relaxed and reflective atmosphere. In addition, the audience was small, so the interaction with the artists was closer. They even played new songs never heard before! All of this made the show an epic moment.