Today was the last time that we, as a group, were all together in the classroom we have been calling “home” since January 15th.
The sad truth is, we will never be all together again: life moves on. This next chapter of our life story moves forward, leaving behind great memories and great friends.
This afternoon, one of the students from the Class of 2016 sent me an email: Diego Lezcano – our first Coffee Master representing Panama. I would like to share his words which express the intangible treasures a Coffee Master takes home at the end of this bittersweet journey…
Sitting at a long table with red chairs, in a room that is next to the roasting plant of the company that has throughout history demonstrated that a coffee dream is indeed possible, makes me think that this is only the beginning of a new journey dedicated to sensorial intricateness, to understanding the humble part of the road to coffee, to the eagerness of offering your product at the best possible price, to creating stories and knowledge with new people, such as we, the 24 students of the 2016 edition, have shared during these past 6 months of camaraderie, filled with intense and happy moments of the Master’s in Coffee Economic & Science – Ernesto Illy, here in Trieste, Italy.
There are so many things to talk about regarding our lives in Italy, but the important story to share now is our bright future as the “Future Coffee Leaders” - as some professors liked to call us during class. This journey should speak about trying, failing and succeeding, but also about never stop learning, sharing with others, and being who we are. Simply, it is important how we, as a team, could ensure that climate change is not going to beat us (like the illy Grinder football team did earlier this year).
These months in Italy, attending this unique Master’s program, is probably one of my top five life experiences so far that I will never forget, and hopefully for my classmates as well. May we keep writing this book together, with illy, our colleagues and the future Coffee generations to come.