Theme project blog: Luciana Piedrafita

Lessons, Laughter, and Learning: My Theme Project Experience.

I didn’t just learn from the presentations—I discovered the power of teamwork, honest conversations, and a little bit of laughter along the way.

I don’t even know where to start describing how much I not only enjoyed but was genuinely helped by the presentations in the theme project. All the groups covered very interesting and timely topics, which made it really easy to stay engaged. I think we’ve improved a lot since the first presentation—maybe we just got rid of the nerves, or maybe practice really does make perfect! Whatever the reason, there was a clear sense of growth, confidence, and teamwork across the board that made this whole experience even more fulfilling.

I’ve enjoyed this teamwork more than the previous one. My group had much better chemistry, and each member contributed very useful insights that made the work run smoothly. It felt like everyone really wanted to be there, to collaborate, and to make the final result something we could be proud of. Not only academically, but we also really bonded as a team. Our Group 1 chat has become a hub of laughs, good vibes, and camaraderie. It even led to us planning a Halloween get-together! I honestly hadn’t expected a university assignment to help create a small sense of community, but that’s exactly what happened.

All the topics chosen were very interesting as they all revolved around the idea of the respect for basic rights as it is an issue that must constantly be reminded to our governments, and as citizens we must always remain vigilant. We have a government to guarantee these rights for us: the right to education, healthcare, housing, and food. Working on this made me realize how easy it is to take these rights for granted when we grow up surrounded by them. It was also very interesting to explore the topic of immigration. The world is becoming more united, globalization is breaking down borders, barriers, and differences, but it also brings problems that, although few, are quite significant—such as public debt, pensions, and the strain on infrastructure.

We are receiving people who contribute positively to the economy, but they also represent an immediate expense in terms of resources that were not originally planned for. This balance between short-term challenges and long-term benefits is delicate, and it really opened my eyes to how complex the issue is. On paper, the solutions seem obvious, but in reality, they involve emotional, cultural, and economic layers that are impossible to ignore.

It is definitely a difficult and sensitive topic. Both sides are not trying to cause harm; they are simply trying to survive under current circumstances, to survive in these modern times. Maybe what we should remember is that where five can fit, six can fit too. The essence of society is the collective, and human beings are social creatures above all else. Even genetically, we are inclined toward mixing and diversity. I truly believe we are witnessing a historical moment—something that will eventually appear in textbooks. We are seeing the beginning of an entirely new era, and although we may not live to see the final outcomes, I’m sure the process itself will be just as fascinating as what the future will bring.

I’d also like to highlight how much I benefited from listening to Group 2’s interview on education and tuition costs. We were lucky that one of our classmates had such a good relationship with her high school teachers that she was able to conduct an interview that felt real, raw, and honest. It wasn’t just informative; it was personal. Their reflections on the accessibility of education, the financial burden many students face, and the emotional toll of navigating such decisions really resonated with me. It reminded me that behind every statistic or policy discussion, there are actual people whose lives are shaped by these systems.

As a student coming from Europe, I was quite anxious about this very American tendency to commercialize education. I had heard so many stories about the struggles students face to afford it. Hearing the advice from both interviewees, their supportive words, and realizing that one of them had followed the same path as me was incredibly encouraging and gave me the motivation to keep going. It reminded me that although the system can be overwhelming, many people find their way through it and come out stronger and more capable.

For me, this change of environment, country, and city has been quite difficult. I’m used to a place where the best education is almost free, where immigrants and people in need receive substantial aid to help them gain momentum and support themselves, and where healthcare is truly vocational and hasn’t been so heavily commercialized. At times, this contrast has been shocking and even disorienting.

And although everything seems like a disadvantage—so much so that sometimes even I forget why I crossed the ocean to come here—there’s only one factor that explains it: the competitiveness that comes with a free market. Education or healthcare may not be guaranteed for everyone who wants them, but continuous improvement is built into the system. Universities and doctors compete for their clients, and that competitiveness pushes them to reinvent, innovate, and constantly improve the services they provide. Maybe Europe is a place for everyone, but not necessarily a place for the best or for those looking to push themselves beyond the standard.

Lastly, I would like to talk about my own interview. I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Martín. Eva is a very close friend of my family; she is an extremely capable, persistent, and disciplined woman. Despite having all the talent needed to seek better opportunities abroad, she has always wanted to stay in her home country. In Spain, as in many parts of Europe, we face the issue of investing significant public resources into training professionals who later leave to find better-paying opportunities elsewhere. It represents a sort of national loss—we could say we “export” highly capable individuals simply because we are not managing our resources well enough to retain them.

Talking to her helped me realize how interconnected these issues are—education, healthcare, immigration, public investment, and personal ambition. Each one affects the others in ways that are not always obvious until you speak to someone who has lived through them. In the end, this project allowed me not only to learn academically but also to reflect on my own experiences, my cultural background, and the challenges of adapting to a new environment. It made me appreciate the complexities of global systems and reminded me that behind every theory, every policy, and every debate, there are real lives being shaped in real time.