NATALIA
ANNA: Are you a competitive person?
NATI: In sports yes, not in life. When I studied at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, I experienced for the first time what it meant to be competitive and seeing people that wanted to dominate others... It was heavy.
A: And in sports, where do you think your competitiveness comes from?
N: I’ve always liked winning from elementary school track races to basketball games and skiing. I’ve always wanted to win. Not just participate, but to give my best and win.
A: Why did you choose basketball?
N: I never really cared what people thought about me playing a sport that might be considered "for boys." I started playing because my brother played. I was little, I used to go watch his practices, and it looked fun. When we moved to Milan, I started playing too, and I liked being the only girl among the boys, showing that I was good and up to the challenge of playing with them.
A: What did you learn from playing?
N: I played competitively for a long time, on a great team, and it was tough. I sacrificed a lot for my passion following strict schedules, rules, and learning to play with others.
A: Do those lessons carry over into your life now?
N: Definitely, I know how to interact with others calmly, how to listen, and how to be at peace. Teamwork is a big part of the job I’ve chosen to do.
A: What do you do for a living?
N: I work with Emergency, a non-governmental organization based in Milan. I've been working there for almost three years now. I started because I wanted to help others, to offer support. It's amazing to work for something that has a mission of change, that stands for strong values. There are people within the organization who have dedicated their entire lives to this work. I don’t think I want to dedicate my whole life to my job—I believe that family and social life are really important too. But still, I know I’m in a special place right now.
A: Do you have any fears?
N: They’re sending me to work on a field project in Sudan. I’ll be doing training in the area of human resources. It’s going to be tough and I'm scared.
A: Do you think your family influenced your interest in this field?
N: Yes, definitely. Our father (Nati is my sister) is a strong supporter of the organization and, in general, someone who has always been committed to social causes. I also think our parents put a lot of effort into raising us three to be responsible, to strive for meaningful work, to be dedicated and passionate, to never give up… and truly to see the world around us.
A: What does being a woman mean to you?
N: Being a woman is a thousand different things, it means being able to give birth, having your period every month, and feeling afraid to walk home alone at night. I feel more like a woman when I wear jewelry, for example, when I dress elegantly to go out, or when I respond sharply to someone.
A: Tell me about one of your small freedoms.
N: Swimming makes me feel good, I leave my phone, I leave my thoughts, and I feel free.