My name is Leonela Zarza. I am an Audiovisual Technician and soon to be a Digital Media Communicator—only six months away from graduating. I was born and raised in Argentina, in a very small town near Rosario, a city full of magic and strong energy.

My story isn’t simple. I’ve lived in many places, and there was a time when I worked just to stay alive. But I believe there’s a path for each and every one of us, and I’m convinced that path finds us. That’s exactly what happened to me.

I met a wonderful man, got married, and we have two beautiful daughters. He saw potential in me and encouraged me to pursue my goals and dreams. At 28, I decided to stop making excuses that limited my potential. I went back to school and, after much consideration, chose to study cinematography—a short, three-year program. This decision marked the beginning of realizing how little I actually knew about the field, which led to a wave of desperation.

Feeling behind due to my limited knowledge, I took numerous extra courses to build a solid foundation. Meanwhile, I discovered I was unhappy with the role I initially chose. I thought being a producer would suit my personality, but I hated it.

Then, I volunteered at festivals, and through one of them, I got a small job in a major movie being filmed in my town. Of course, I said yes, and the experience was incredible—a whirlwind of the good, the bad, and the mediocre sides of working in the film industry. During this time, one person caught my attention: a woman who was always behind a laptop, handling the camera and managing hard drives. Curious, I asked her about her role, and she explained that she was a data manager. She controlled when we could film, take breaks, and manage equipment like batteries and disk space. To me, it was a powerful position, and I admired her.

Intrigued, I did my research and asked her for advice. She recommended some courses and gave me tips, though she explained that data management wasn’t something widely taught. Determined, I found a course in Buenos Aires—500 km from my home—that included training for this role. For a year, I traveled back and forth weekly, and my mind was blown. The course was amazing, associated with one of the largest cinematography rental houses, which allowed us to use real film equipment. My love for cinematographic photography blossomed.

I was captivated by the details: the tripods, the frames, the lights, the cables, even rolling them up. I loved being told where to place things—it was magical. More than once, I got emotional, wondering if I could ever make a living out of this. That wasn’t the point, though. The point was finding true passion, and I found it there.

The course ended, and I finished my studies. The friends and experiences I gained are my most precious gifts. Time flew by, but I always knew I wanted to earn a degree. While passion is vital, I wanted something to validate my knowledge. That’s when I discovered a continuation program that allowed me to earn a Digital Media degree by building on my previous studies.

Now, I’m in the middle of that path. The program lasts 18 months, requiring credits that will qualify me as a professional media communicator. I love it. I’ve learned a bit of journalism, writing, media history, semiotics, marketing, and even attended incredible AI seminars. AI can achieve so much if used wisely. Most importantly, I’ve learned what academic study truly entails. My earlier work was all hands-on training: how to set up, edit, prepare, and communicate a vision. Digital media requires sitting down, studying, and developing material individually. Surprisingly, I feel comfortable with this, enjoying the balance between theory and practice.

Currently, I’m living in Lausanne, Switzerland. My personal goals have always intertwined with my family’s dreams, and I’m fortunate to say we’ve achieved both. Since my first daughter was born, my husband and I dreamed of moving to Switzerland, partly for its incredible education system. My husband is Swiss, so when our daughter was born, it was a no-brainer to apply for her citizenship. That sparked the idea of building a life here.

Our plans were briefly paused when we found out we were expecting our second daughter. Being a middle-class family, we knew healthcare in Switzerland was expensive, so we decided to wait. Meanwhile, I started my studies and researched our migration process. Long story short, I finished my degree and migration paperwork simultaneously. It took longer than expected due to Argentina’s economic situation, but in November 2023, we finally made it. My husband went ahead to secure a home and job, and later, the girls and I joined him on a family reunification visa.

I handled all the paperwork myself, unable to afford professional help, which makes me incredibly proud. Being here, living this dream, is the most rewarding experience. Switzerland has exceeded our expectations—it truly feels like home.