The word despedida describes a farewell event before parting ways with someone who is off to new adventures. Naturally, this is the word that I associate to the last days in the ‘city of eternal spring’, together with cuidado, to express gratitude for the care we received from all those who accompanied us in this journey. Parce is the last word I have chosen, a paisa word for ‘friend/mate’ (paisa is an adjective describing someone/something from Medellín or, more in general, the department of Antioquia), capturing the value of the friendships we built during the six weeks.

What went well?

In this last week, I found myself thinking often about how lucky me and my fellow scholars have been to have formed such strong bonds within our group and with some of our volunteers from the university where we worked for most of our time in Medellín. I joined this LiA project without knowing anyone, nor was I particularly focused on forming strong bonds in Colombia: at the end of the day, making friends during a six-weeks programme is definitely not a priority nor a requirement, especially considering the geographical distance between the people involved. On top of that, what are the chances of really getting along with someone in such a small group? I was proven wrong, and I want to make some space in my reflection to acknowledge how valuable it has been to feel part of a group during my time in Colombia. Towards week 3, circumstantial relationships started turning into intentional friendships, and the ‘imposed coexistence’ with other scholars became a great source of sought comfort in inevitable moments of discomfort (but not only!). Similarly, I was surprised for how well-integrated I felt in the UPB student community; I had the chance to visit some of our Colombian peers’ houses and share lunch breaks with them, exchange academic and personal passions, and even attend some of their seminars. It makes me incredibly happy to know there are people ready to welcome me in Medellín, should I want to return.

What could have been done differently?

Looking back, I wish I grasped more opportunities to engage with the academic community at UPB, and with social movements in the city (including the organisation I worked with). There are many events, seminars, and cultural hubs that I could have partook in, if I had more confidence to step out of my comfort zone (and more time on my hands!). I started to feel comfortable moving around the city alone only in the last couple of weeks, and that definitely prevented me from be fully involved with the city and its cultural offer.

What did I learn about myself when working with others?

As a particularly independent person, during the six weeks in Colombia I came to a conclusion which goes against the ‘solitary’ lifestyle that I have chosen when I moved out of home at the age of 16 to pursue my studies abroad. One cannot underestimate the importance of having a support network that is physically near and emotionally present in moments of need, and individual success often lies in community wellbeing. My time in Colombia has been marked by some some anxiety-charged episodes (the worst one occurred a few days leading up to my flight), and I really struggled to acknowledge when I needed external help. I understood that I am not expected nor able to manage everything independently, yet even asking for support can be a challenge at times…definitely something to work on, for my own sake!

What did I learn about leadership?

At some point during our ‘farewell fiesta’, I looked around the room filled with the people who walked by our side and supported us during our LiA: the student volunteers, Sandra the most amazing cook & Colombian ‘mum’ for our group, some staff from UPB, the makesense team, and Alexander Stanley from the Laidlaw Foundation were all there to celebrate our time in Colombia. I believe the greatest accomplishment we achieved as a group was sharing our enthusiasm for this project with the people around us, which was reflected in the engagement with our volunteers and collaborators beyond project-related commitments. After this experience, I am even more convinced that being capable to form genuine and meaningful human connections is a key feature of a successful and impactful leader.

What do I want to develop or focus on next?

As I am wrapping up my journey in Colombia, I want to consolidate the relationships built during the past weeks and establish solid channels of communication with the people we have been working with. I do not want this LiA experience to be an end in itself, rather the beginning of a series of collaborations and connections to nurture within and beyond academia.