“How a High School Friendship Sparked a Passion for Adventure and Photography”
In the first year of high school, I met a girl named Miiz who would become a significant part of my life. We often wrote about love, socializing, adventures, dancing, and heartbreaks—recurring themes of our teenage years. I valued the advice she gave me, and I often used the hashtag #adventureIsOutThere to capture the spirit of our conversations.
Miiz also introduced me to photography, emphasizing adventure and nature. Her influence broadened my perspective and fueled my creativity.
One day in March 2016, another friend and I decided to go for a walk. The street we strolled down resembled Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter films. This vivid imagery inspired the concept of “Caminho,” which means “path” in Portuguese. It perfectly encapsulated the idea of a series of photos coming together to create a cohesive video narrative.
Otto Friedrich Bollnow wrote about Human Space, stating that “he who doesn’t have a place to take shelter, a home, exposes himself without defense to the danger of time and destiny.” It is important to remember that owning a house does not necessarily mean understanding how to live in it. Learning how to live in a house is a process that requires a new path. This process involves learning and understanding how to dwell, and only then can one belong to a place where all new paths begin and return. The human soul is both a traveler and a dweller, needing to venture into the wilderness to achieve its purpose in the adventure of life.
It marks the end of an era—not just academically, but also as a poetic farewell to my time in Madrid. It’s not about leaving the city itself, but rather the essence of the people I’ve had the pleasure to meet and the self-discoveries I’ve made. This farewell paves the way for new studies in movement and theater in foreign lands, culminating in a charitable performance with all proceeds supporting these new academic pursuits.
“Farewell to Madrid: A New Chapter in Theater and Movement Studies”
This performance has faced its share of ups and downs, difficulties, and moments when giving up seemed tempting. However, someone once told me, “Once you have the idea structured in your mind and on paper, it’s time to take action. The only obstacle is yourself. Be creative and make the most of everything you have at your disposal; bring it to life. The final result will be completely different if you wait ten more years because your knowledge and resources will evolve. The power to change is within you.”