Brazil – "At school I learned what solidarity was and the importance of not being individualistic." The testimony of Lílian Maia

(ANS - Niterói) - "All I am is due to my childhood. I was always an extroverted child, charismatic and affectionate, and I enjoyed chatting with both kids and adults. At school I wanted to be class representative and, since I was studying in a Catholic school, I enjoyed being part of the Youth Ministry. And it is in that environment that I learned to develop myself, as a human being." It is the testimony of Lílian Maia, Salesian Past Pupil, now a lawyer and a coach.

What do you remember about your childhood?

In Youth Ministry we were divided into groups, usually by age, and we had weekly meetings to talk about religion, behavior, values, motivational aspects of our lives, those skills that each of us loved to develop ... We organized visits to orphanages and hospitals, which made me aware of the importance of developing social work! I learned what solidarity was and the importance of not being individualistic, selfish. I loved collecting food in my building for the "Solidarity Campaigns" and I was the first to donate toys and clothes for those people we visited.

What did you learn in your school?

It was in school, in fact, that I learned many great lessons which accompany me in adulthood. Among these, I can say: to identify and create collaborative action plans for the future; development of the spirit of solidarity, cooperation and union between humans; development of the sense of association and belonging among colleagues; awareness that leadership is a learning process; the importance of building strong alliances and relationships. In concrete terms: honesty, self-knowledge, self-confidence, flexibility, social intelligence, consistency with one's own values.

How do you bring forward what you learned in school?

Today I am in a profession that allows me to use all the teachings that I learned as a student. And, even more incredible, I can develop those forces in an increasing number of people. I think I would not be able to stimulate those teachings if I had not previously lived and believed in them. In coaching, I found my mission: to help a growing number of people pursue their personal development and learning, so that their goals are gradually achieved by following phases of change that culminate in achieving a final goal.

Source: Boletim Salesiano

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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