Advice from alumni: Vincenzo Taddeo

Italy’s Vincenzo Taddeo followed the IB program at EF Academy Torbay and is now studying Economics and Banking at the University of Greenwich. What’s the most important thing he learned during his time at EF Academy?: “I learned to never set limits for myself because there are infinite margins of improvement and if you put effort in what you do, you can always get what you want.” Read on to learn more about Vincenzo’s experience:

 

Full name: Vincenzo Taddeo

Age: 20

Home country: Italy

Languages: Italian, English and some Spanish

EF Academy campus: Torbay

Program: IB Year 1

Grad year: 2014

Favorite club: Cooking Club

Favorite subject: Economics, I’ve always been passionate about how the government and consumers allocate their resources. I liked the teacher and that really made me passionate about the subject.

University: University of Greenwich, studying Economics and Banking

 

Why did you decide to attend EF Academy?

I really like to travel and for me, studying abroad was a priority. I thought about just going abroad for university but then I discovered EF Academy and I was introduced to the courses they provided and I liked that the students were from all around the world. I was excited to meet people from different cultures. It was mainly the multicultural environment that interested me

What is your favorite EF Academy memory?

It’s a difficult a question because my favorite part was more like a period of time. I think that between the ages of 17 and 18 is the best part of a person’s life. I don’t have a specific memory, but for me that whole year and the experience was great. Especially because of all the time I spent with my international friends. But if I had to pick one memory, I would say the May Ball, because it was the culmination of that beautiful experience.

Why did you switch from A-Level to IB?

I started the A-Level program and did it for two or three weeks. But I didn’t like that I was taking so few subjects so I talked to some friends who were doing IB and I spoke with Debbie [IB Coordinator at EF Academy Torbay] and I decided to switch to the IB program. It seemed more challenging and I liked that I would get a range of knowledge and experience in multiple subjects, not just four. After that year of IB at EF Academy, I continued the program at another school in Torquay.

 

What advice do you have for current students?

IB is a very tough course, I think it’s tougher than university. What I suggest is that you don’t miss deadlines. It’s a very assignment-based course and you will struggle, especially in your second year, if you don’t constantly work to keep on track with your tasks. Do as many co-curricular activities as you can! When we did the cooking class, it was so enjoyable and something nice to do in my spare time. It was a way to bond with other students and learn more about their traditions and cultures.

What did you do in the Cooking Club?
There was an Italian chef and we cooked with partners. I cooked with Hector, my Mexican roommate. At the end there was a cooking competition, but overall it was just fun to see how everyone cooked. Some of us were completely beginners so it was fun to see who could cook the least-worst dish.

How did you choose your university and your program?

I liked political economics when I started EF Academy and when I started studying IB economics it helped me understand the more academic part of the subject and I got really into it, especially the math related to it. I was looking for university courses and I found one with banking – I’ve always been keen on having a deeper understanding of what were the causes of the financial crisis back in 2007-2008.

Economics with banking is not a very common course  and Greenwich has a different approach to economics teaching. They teach it in a more unconventional way. All the universities focus on the Neoclassical doctrine while Greenwich takes into account different perspectives and theories that challenge the old school economics, and this aspect really interested me.

What is one thing you learned at EF Academy that prepared you for university? For your career? For your personal life?

To not set limits for myself. When I got to EF Academy, I couldn’t say a word of English and after the first week I wondered if I had made the right decision. But I had a very supportive surrounding, with the counselors and teachers, and they pushed me and throughout that experience I learned to never set limits for myself because there are infinite margins of improvement and if you put effort in what you do, you can always get what you want.

What is the accomplishment you are proudest of?

Last year’s exams because they were very important to my final grade and I managed to do well across the modules of the course, which is considered to be very tough in Greenwich.

What is your dream for your future?

My biggest dream is to become a politician in Italy, but before that I would like to have work experience maybe in the UK and maybe in the financial sector. But in 15 years’ time, I’d like to start a political career in my country. I would like to work within Italy’s Ministry of Economics and Finance.