​The 'Francesco Morosini' Naval Military School of Venice was a fundamental chapter of my life. It was there that I took my first steps into the Italian Navy, learning the rules, values, and traditions that are still a part of me today.

It all started in 2003, almost by chance, during a trip to Venice with my family. I was 13 years old, and while walking through the city, I saw a group of young people in uniform: they were the students of the 'Morosini'. Curiosity got the better of my shyness, and without thinking too much about it, I stopped them to ask who they were and why they were already wearing such an important uniform at that age. Those few words exchanged with them ignited a spark within me. Once back home, with the help of my parents, I discovered the existence of the announcement for the admission, published in the Official Gazette. I still remember my mother, who worked in a library, downloading and printing the text of the announcement for me: a simple gesture, but one that meant so much to me.

From that moment on, everything changed. Passing the entrance exam was the first of a long series of challenges that would accompany me through my years at the Morosini. Life within the Institute, as well as the many external activities in which I had the privilege to participate, were a succession of emotions, obstacles to overcome, and satisfactions to achieve. The training cruise onboard the training ship Amerigo Vespucci was unforgettable, as well as the intense training camp at the then San Marco Battalion, now San Marco Marine Brigade. I remember the ski training weeks with the Alpine troops and the extraordinary emotion of marching along the Via dei Fori Imperiali in Rome on occasion of the Republic Day: moments that I will always carry in my heart.

The School offers much more than just an academic path. It's a life experience that opens doors to extraordinary opportunities, bringing young people closer to the world of the sea and helping them understand if that could be their path. Even for those who choose to follow other routes, the 'Morosini' remains a unique experience: it teaches the value of teamwork, self-confidence, and the conviction that no goal is truly unattainable.

Life at the 'Morosini' also involves a lot of sports, sea and land competitions, in a continuous growth environment where you learn from older students, respecting their commitment and drawing inspiration from their successes. The same spirit is also reflected in academic performance: we help each other, share goals, and celebrate achievements together. The class is not just a group of students, but a real team.

For me, attending the 'Morosini' was a fundamental added value. It prepared me to face the years at the Naval Academy with confidence, having already experienced a rigorous but extremely formative lifestyle. During my three years there, I had the opportunity to visit specialistic assets like the submarines, and it is also thanks to those experiences that I understood what my future would be: to become a Submarine Commander. A dream I realized in 2022, becoming the commanding officer of the submarine Scirè.

Today, looking back, I can say that it all started that day in Venice, with the simple question I asked those young people in uniform. I found the answer in the following years, building step by step the person and the officer I am today.