Challenges are just some steps on the ladder

Written by Bogdan Burdusel, January 2019

3rd of September, 9 AM. The time had come, and the road was long. But there I was alongside peers from more than 100 countries of the world, among some of the most intelligent people of tomorrow’s society. How would I manage to deal with all the emotions, the avalanche of feelings that were giving me shivers? I had been waiting for this moment for a lifetime and now that I got to live it, it seemed like everything would collapse.

This was my state of mind on the first day of class in September 2018. Half of the term has passed, and the struggle is real. I was not imagining the level of effort that I need to put in for every class I take. CEU is another level, maybe I should have stayed in Romania. Even though as a Roma, the challenges I would face would make me regret the choice I have made. Plus, I heard so many times that Roma cannot make it, most probably it is true…

Of course, it is not! Finally, the first term ended, and I did way better than I’d expected. Yes, there were days when I felt like quitting. Sometimes the homesickness was hitting me hard. But what CEU teaches you is that you must continue. Over and over again. Because you are designed to make it, you are created to succeed. You, even a guy coming from the poorest neighborhood of Bucharest, a Roma guy to whom no one gave a chance — even you can do it. What matters is not to forget why you are here and what you wish to accomplish.

In the end, I was offered a chance that gives me an enormous responsibility. I have the opportunity to set an example for the younger Roma, those who’ll have the chance to follow in my footsteps.

I will end with an encouraging statement that I hope will reach the ones that are struggling like I’ve been: keep your spirit up, Roma can make it too!