After finishing my degree in International Relations, I started a master’s in Business Management and IT. On paper, it was perfect — one of the top programs in the country, amazing professors, strong structure… everything that was supposed to make me feel proud.

But instead, I felt completely disconnected.

Every lecture, every case study just seemed so far from the real world of actually managing a business. I was sitting there thinking, is this really it?

After years and years of studying, I felt suffocated. I didn’t want another semester in a classroom — I wanted life itself to be my classroom.

I wanted to travel the world, to learn from people, cultures, and experiences — not just from books. I wanted to see, touch, and feel the world with my own hands.

One day, I was talking to one of my professors — someone I really admired — and he told me something that completely changed the way I saw the business world.

He said that even though he had a doctorate in Business Management, it wasn’t the degree that opened doors for him. It was the real-world experiences — the courses, the side projects, the moments where he actually worked with companies and learned hands-on.

The way he spoke, from experience and not just theory, made me realize what I was missing. I didn’t want to just study business — I wanted to live it.

Of course, there was just one problem — money.

I wanted to see the world, but how could I possibly afford it? So I started researching every possible way to make it happen.

Au Pair programs, study abroad options, teaching English in China, working on cruise ships… I read everything I could find, comparing costs, requirements, and stories from people who had done it.

Each option was a tiny window into a different kind of life — and little by little, the idea of working at sea started to stand out.

I tried everything.

Au Pair? I was too old.
Study abroad? No scholarships available.
Teach English in China? Rejected — over and over again.

It felt like every door I knocked on stayed closed.

But I still couldn’t let go of the idea of traveling — of finding a way to make the world my classroom. So I kept searching, late at night, scrolling through forums and job sites until one opportunity kept catching my eye: working on cruise ships.

The more I read, the more it sounded like exactly what I’d been dreaming of — a chance to travel, learn, and grow, all while earning money.

The more I read about cruise ships, the more I felt drawn to that life — waking up in a new country every week, meeting people from around the world, learning through experience instead of textbooks. 🌍

But when I told my family about it, they didn’t believe I could do it.
They said life onboard was too hard, too demanding. That someone like me — who had always been in classrooms and offices — wouldn’t last a month at sea.

I can’t lie, their words hurt. For a while, I even believed them.

But deep down, something in me refused to let go of the idea. Every time I imagined that ship sailing into a sunrise, I felt it — that was where I needed to be.

So I tried to keep going with my master’s degree… but I just couldn’t stop thinking about the ships.

Every day in class, my mind would drift — not to the next assignment, but to the sound of the ocean, the idea of waking up somewhere new, the feeling of finally living the adventure I’d been dreaming of.

So, without telling anyone, I started applying through every trustworthy agency I could find. I spent countless hours writing and rewriting my CV, researching every position, and watching every video, documentary, and interview I could find about life at sea.

It became my secret project — my way of holding onto hope, even when nobody else believed I could do it.

The course lasted a few weeks, but it completely changed my perspective. I learned about the many different roles onboard, how the teams worked together, and what daily life at sea was really like.

It was challenging — but I loved every second of it. Every class made my dream feel a little more possible.

Here are some pictures from the course and the amazing teachers who helped me prepare for this new chapter! ⚓💙

A few months later, I finally did the second interview — and I was approved! 🎉

Want to know a secret? I was so nervous before that Zoom call that I actually had a beer to calm my nerves. 🍺😅

It still makes me laugh today, but at that moment, my hands were shaking, and I just wanted to do my best. After all the rejections and months of hoping, this was my chance.

When I saw the email saying I’d been accepted, I couldn’t believe it — I had officially been hired to work onboard a cruise ship.

Before embarking, I had to complete a few mandatory courses — and the first one was maritime safety training.

It was called Basic Safety Training for Seafarers, and it completely opened my eyes. 🌊

I learned what to do in case of fire, how to use life jackets and lifeboats, how to help others in an emergency, and even how to survive in the open sea. It was intense — but also empowering.

That’s when I truly realized that working onboard wasn’t just a job… it was a responsibility. Every crew member has to be ready to protect and care for others, no matter what happens.

I learned how to use a firehose… 

We learned what would happen in case of having to jump into the water… 

I actually had to jump from about five meters high into the water in order to rescue somebody… 

And finally got my certitificate! 

There was still one final course to do. I had to go to Rio de Janeiro and do a course there specificaly for Costa Cruises and learn things specificaly for their ships. 

It was a blast learning about this whole new world and exactly what I wanted to be doing! 

After a few months, the big day finally came — I received my contract and officially embarked as an Assistant Adult Animator with Costa Cruises. 🚢✨

It was everything I had dreamed of — and more. I met people from all over the world, worked hard, laughed even harder, and learned every single day. It was hands-on, dynamic, and full of meaning — exactly the kind of learning I had been craving all along.

I loved every detail of it — the energy, the people, the ocean mornings, the feeling of being part of something bigger. Those months onboard shaped who I am today and taught me lessons no classroom ever could.

And the rest? Well… the rest is history. 💙🌊