Afternoon of celebrations today in Siena for the new doctors of the University of Siena who obtained their bachelor’s or master’s degrees in the last academic year and who were celebrated at the GraduationDay graduation party in Piazza del Campo. They were guests of honor Massimiliano RosolinoOlympic and world swimming champion, e Gaia Pianigiani, correspondent for the New York Times, who gave a speech; also participated Chiara Galganivice-president of the USienaAlumni association. An afternoon punctuated by speeches that marked the day of the graduation party for almost 800 participants and for their family members. The ceremony was opened by Rector Roberto Di Pietra who greeted and thanked the participants, their relatives and friends and the numerous civil, military and religious academic authorities present. She also thanked the municipal administration of Siena for the use of the square and the collaboration in carrying out the important academic event. He then took the floor Mayor of Siena Nicoletta Fabio: «Greetings to the Magnificent Rector, authorities, teachers, citizens and obviously, with a different and shared warmth, to all these girls and boys present today in Piazza del Campo, to their parents and their families. What I would like to remain in their memories and what we all need to work on most, institutions first and foremost, is the concept of welcome. I would like Siena to be able to remain linked to this very important value over time, especially today. Studying in this city means living it, being part of the daily actions of a community that has always been able to claim a strong identity composition. But this does not mean that there cannot be space for those who were not born in this city. The voice of our young people, all of them, must always be heard. I think trying to build a future with them that can in some cases allow them to continue to consider our city as a second home is the greatest objective.” This was then followed by the passionate speech of the Olympic champion Massimiliano Rosolino according to which «Graduation Day is a special moment that represents the beginning and not the end of a journey. I am happy to be able to give my testimony as an athlete and as a person who has never stopped his race: sport has taught me to always start again, both after a victory and after a defeat, giving my all every time and with new stimuli .”. Below is the wish of Gaia Pianigiani: «I feel like one of you and it is an honor for me to be here. As a graduate of the University I had the opportunity to build a career that respected my desires. As it was for me, I also wish you all to make your dreams come true starting from this day”. The Vice President of the USienaAlumni Association then spoke Chiara Galgani remembering that “this ceremony does not mark a point of arrival, but represents a starting point for you. The beginning of a journey made of new projects, changes, challenges, responsibilities and, I hope, success.” Then new intervention from Rector Roberto Di Pietra :”You have achieved an important result – he said – at the end of a journey in which you overcame difficulties and obstacles, but also moments of happiness and satisfaction. You have completed a journey in which you have acquired skills, knowledge and abilities together with a better awareness of yourself, a clear maturation of your person. You have chosen the University of Siena and I congratulate and thank you for this choice. The completion of your studies opens the doors to the most challenging path in the world of work in which you will bring your skills, your abilities and your energies” .The Rector he then proposed a reflection on the difficult situations that can be experienced in everyday life, remembering that “life is full of obstacles and defeats. Defeat, defeats are themselves part of our life. There can be no victory, result, finish line – I even say “performance” – if not because we have gone through defeats.” He then wanted to refer to Piazza del Campo, as a place that welcomes, but also the theater of victories and defeats for centuries: «I wish many victories for your lives, I certainly do not wish you defeats and, however, in the knowledge that there will be , I hope you know how to live and transform them as the necessary premise for achieving your goals. Only in this way will the flavor and value of the results you achieve be full of light and worthy of applause! We then moved on to calling the new doctors onto the stage for the usual photograph with the Rector and the Director of their department. Finally came the choral moment of throwing the tòcco into the air, to seal the important goal achieved. The event was accompanied by the choir of the University of Siena, directed by the Maestro professor Elisabetta Miraldimade up of members of the university community, including students, teachers and staff, who enlivened the event with a rich program from their own repertoire.
