My name is Andrea Cautillo, and I come from Vallata, a small town in the Baronia region, in the province of Avellino, where I lived until I graduated with a scientific high school diploma. Although I am deeply connected to my land, I have always felt the desire to be part of something bigger, something that could open new opportunities for me and help me improve further. I dreamt of studying in the United States; a distant dream, seemingly unachievable from my perspective. Fortunately, I was wrong. I was fortunate enough to receive the “Pasquale Freda” scholarship from Boston University, one of the top universities in the United States. This unique opportunity not only allowed me to make my dream a reality but will also give me access to a bright future.

I started my studies in the fall of 2024 in the Faculty of Computer Science and Data Science, and my studies will conclude in the spring of 2028. Studying in an international context allows me to engage with students from all over the world, giving me the chance to improve and enrich my cultural diversity. Additionally, access to advanced academic courses will enable me to reach the necessary level of competence to excel in my field. I am still uncertain about what the future holds, but one thing I am sure of: without this scholarship, all of this would have remained a dream.