For Sofia Ferreri, journalism was not always the obvious path forward. Born and raised in Florence, Sofia has spent the last five years moving between Barcelona and Milan, two cities that, in their own ways, have shaped the person she is today.
While in high school, the restrictions and isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to fully enjoy her teenage years. Looking for a fresh start, Sofia decided to move to Barcelona to pursue a bachelor’s degree in business management. Barcelona not only offered her the opportunity to explore a new city, but also the space to improve and grow as a person.
The city became “a kind of resurrection, with the sea bringing a renewed sense of peace and calm”. It was here that Sofia, once timid and uncomfortable speaking in front of others, gradually learned how to communicate with an audience. Through in-class presentations and modelling jobs, she began to challenge herself in ways she had never done before, learning to feel comfortable with being seen. Indeed, it only takes a few moments to understand that the quietness that surrounds her is not shyness, but rather a quiet confidence that does not need to shout to make itself heard.
With her years in Barcelona coming to an end, Sofia moved to Milan to continue her university studies. While the gloomy weather and competitive environment did not always make the change easy, it was here that she began to understand more clearly what she wanted for her future. During this time, she interned at Sky Italia before joining the university’s very own Radio Bocconi, where she conducted live interviews with prominent figures in the entertainment industry, her first guest being actress and singer Lea Gavino. She looks back on those days with the kind of giddiness she describes as childlike, recalling the thrill of going live for the first time.
Sofia believes these experiences allowed her to live and breathe the journalistic environment, igniting a newfound passion within her. It was, in fact, during her time at Radio Bocconi that she understood just how much she enjoys being in front of the camera. At the same time, she became more aware of the vulnerability that comes with being seen. As she reflects on this, she notes how her time in Barcelona, particularly through modelling, prepared her for the demands of being in front of the camera, where confidence is not simply about being comfortable, but owning the space in front of you.
This led Sofia to where she is now: pursuing a master’s degree in journalism in Rome. When asked if she would do anything differently given the chance, she is certain that “while I may have chosen journalism sooner, I would not change what came before, including the more difficult days in Milan”. Doing so would mean erasing the memories she has made, the people she has met, and the choices that, in one way or another, brought her to where she is today.
Despite this, Sofia is honest about her fears and is not afraid to admit that “having found my passion for journalism later in life, or rather, later than others, I sometimes wonder whether this is the right path for me”. At the same time, she is aware of the lack of stability that can come with a career in journalism. However, as she speaks about her aspiration to become a journalist, one cannot help but notice the way she seems to light up. Perhaps journalism was not always the obvious path forward. Perhaps it was meant to find her in another way: starting in Barcelona, moving to Milan, and finally arriving in Rome.
