As I have always been a person with an optimistic outlook in life, I have always tried to think in ways that would lead me to personal and professional success!

My journey has been tough, because the situations I encountered during my youth and the place where I grew up does not help any youngster to seek for alternatives to succeed in life and overcome obstacles that appear. In reality, most of these youngsters that I grew up with stayed frozen in time because their life objectives did not escape the reality they live in, and they did not attempt to discover their real potential.

Thanks to God and to some good friends, I found a unique chance!

I was Vidabela’s test pilot. My friend Thomas told me this during my first contact with the project. But from that chat came the great opportunity to course University, and this was all I ever wanted to be able to follow the way I wanted to lead my life.

I began university and did it thinking in conquering another great victory in my life.

During the time I studied I had great days and also difficult days, but I enjoyed 100% of this time with useful things. I rapidly found a Trainee position as a Systems Analyst in a IT Consulting company.

It was a fantastic experience because not only did I learn a lot, but I was earning some money to put my knowledge into practice. That was very good!

While at university, I was amazed in how much I could grow, in how I could become a better person and asset towards humanity, and I began working in social projects where I delivered food to homeless people. I did a lot of good stuff!

During a meeting with the Vidabela members, my friend Thomas told me something that helped me grow a lot as a person and professional. He said, “Luiz Marcelo, you got the Vidabela scholarship through your merits!” This simple sentence helped me to determine a life philosophy, in which there isn’t a day that passes that I don’t try to be better “and to sum up other merits for goods things in life.”

Today I am a UNIVERSITY GRADUATE and I work as a Systems Analyst, where I intend to be better, to grow and to follow my objectives. I want a good job and I am grateful to Vidabela for having enabled me to take a big step in life. I also intend to give others opportunities to reach professional success, and when the moment comes I would look to come up with great ideas like the founders of Vidabela and help many other people the same way I was helped!

I will be eternally grateful to the people of Vidabela!

To the future students, good luck!

P.S. I miss all the excitement of being a university student, because it was the best experience of my life!