Infanta Sofia has been in Lisbon for a few weeks now, and although she has officially just started her university studies, her journey actually began earlier.
Forward College organized an induction process to help students get to know each other and gradually adapt to their new academic life. Sofia was no exception and has participated in all activities, from group games to city tours.
On the center’s social media, we saw the youngest daughter of the royal family sharing experiences with her future classmates.
There was a wide range of activities: personality workshops using the Myers-Briggs test, talks on study methods, debates on cultural equality, and, of course, more relaxed moments like yoga on Caparica beach, surfing, rooftop concerts, and even a cooking competition.
In other words, a start full of plans to get off to a good start.
I find it interesting that, unlike her older sister Leonor, Sofia has chosen a more international path from the start.
She already knows what it’s like to live away from home thanks to her years in Wales, but Lisbon adds an extra layer with its multicultural environment, small classes, and daily life marked by living with students of various nationalities.
Perhaps the most important aspect of this first stage isn’t the classes yet, but the initial connections that set the tone for what’s to come.
That connection with her classmates will be just as important as the studies she begins.