Some high school students in Cagli consider higher education, but many others choose to stay in this small village to take over family businesses, open small shops or start working in factories.

“I want to let my creative aspect come out,” Tommaso Mondali says about his choice to start university in the fall. He works a technical job with a company that makes parts for assembly lines. He decided to take an exam in the fall to establish his eligibility for a design school in San Marino. “When I first finished high school, I was confused,” says Mondali. “I did not know where or what to do.” He wanted to buy an automobile and to maintain personal financial stability at a young age, but he soon realized that Cagli has limitations. “It is nice but not enough,” he says.

When he first made the decision to work, his family had conflicting opinions. His father supported his choice, but his mother wished he would study. When his family recently heard of his decision to continue his studies, they were very supportive.

But conflict soon arrived because the design school in San Marino is very. “I will continue to study regardless,” he says, because he wants to improve himself.

Samuel Bucarini began two years ago as a student in Forli near Bologna, which is two hours north of Cagli. He started to study aeronautical engineering and then switched to law for six months because of family pressure. After that he gave up all together and returned to Cagli to work.

“I realized after studying for seven exams in seven months that it was different than I expected,” Bucarini says, looking embarrassed, “It was better to stop now and only lose two years.”

Now, after being in Cagli again, he realizes why he left in the first place. “I do not like Cagli life and its area. It is too small and limiting.” He plans to return to a school of medicine as soon as possible.

“I did it all wrong! I am here in Cagli because of my family,” he says, “Not because I want to be here but because of obligation.” Bucarini partially blames the Italian school system. “The school system is aimed for a theoretic way of working. I was prepared really well in a theoretical aspect.” Bucarini, a pragmatic person, says, “Italian universities are the worst for a pragmatic-type person.”

“I was raised in the way that since I studied classical subjects in high school, that it was right to go study at a university.”

Cagli’s size and atmosphere prompt students’ decision to go away to school. “Cagli is small,” said Ceasare Gelso, a University of Perugia student. “After a certain amount of years, you get bored and want to move away.” The trip to Perusia is not to far from home, perfect for Gelso’s bi-monthly trip home. Gelso studies English and Chinese and plans to work internationally after he graduates. He, too, is critical of the Italian school system: “In the last few years, the government has not improved. They make decisions that are good for schools but have more funds for private schools and less for public.”

Antonio Mansi, Gelso’s university peer and Cagliese neighbor shares, Gelso’s view on education. “People should experience another place.” Mansi, an intellectual type with oval glasses and long wild hair, always planned on going to school, “I was raised in the way that since I studied classical subjects in high school, that it was right to go study at a university.” Mansi studies at the University of Letters and Philosophy at Perugia. He said he plans to be a high school teacher either internationally or in Italy, but he does not plan to return to Cagli to live. In fact, his family is moving away from Cagli, because the town is too small.

Both Mansi and Gelso are firm believers in the ideal of education, but they understand others’ points of view. “Going to college is not mandatory.” said Mansi. “ If a student is not suitable, he should not go.”

Carlo Pagliari, a 20-year-old man with dirty clothes and calloused hands, went straight to work after high school and did not regret it. Pagliari’s father died and his mother pushed him to study. But she respects his choice. He works in construction and dreams of becoming a local surveyor. “I like the idea of watching something grow,” said Pagliari, “I like to project ideas and then see the final project.”

After high school, Pagliari said, he was tired of studying and he wanted to be independent. He said he wanted to make money for himself and his family. “My family did not direct me to stay. But I stay because I want to be near my family.” Pagliari said he likes Cagli and the surrounding area. “I like how small Cagli is,” he says.

Despite his own choices, Pagliari strongly believes in educational diversity. “ If a man likes to work, he will work. If a man likes to study, he will study.”

Photos by Katlyn Massimino
Video by Jesse Herwitz
Web Design by Cassandra Kramer

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