There are those who consider obtaining the degree the goal of a lifetime and others, like Professor Paolo Guido Barbaro, consider it a step in an infinite journey.
Fifty-five years old, professor of history and philosophy at the “Alessandro Volta” high school in Reggio Calabria, Barbaro recently set an incredible record: twelve diplomas obtained in thirty-three years.
A long journey, made up of more than 170 exams, which began in 1993 in Messina and culminated a few days ago with the last title obtained in Trieste.
A journey that began thirty years ago
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The “record teacher’s” journey has its roots in the early 90s, as he says in an interview with “The Press”.
The spark ignited with Political Science, but it was only the first in a very long series. “The love of studies has always accompanied me, it is part of me,” explains Barbaro, remembering his first steps among university desks.
After the first diploma obtained in 1993, philosophy (1997) and educational sciences (2002) followed shortly after. Having obtained the teaching diploma, the passion did not die out, quite the contrary: “With the serenity of a contract I also studied with a light heart”.
From that moment on, there was a crescendo between the universities of Catania, Turin, Siena and Genoa, touching on disciplines such as cultural anthropology, historical sciences and philosophical methodologies.
The record within the record: two degrees in 48 hours
If twelve titles already seem like a titanic undertaking, the professor has managed to surpass himself with a final twist worthy of a sprinter. Last February, he defended two theses in just two days in two different cities.
On February 23, he was in Genoa to proclaim himself a doctor in philosophical methodologies with a thesis on Benedetto Croce; just forty-eight hours later he was in Trieste for the final discussion in historical studies.
A tour de force which did not scare him, despite the academic bureaucracy which often forces him to repeat his exams: “After 6 years the subjects are declared obsolete. So I gave, for example, contemporary history three times and English four times. »
The “pet peeve” and the miracle of concentration
Despite how easy it is to collect scrolls, even for Professor Barbaro, there are some subjects that aren’t exactly “easy”. If the examination of the heart remains the Philosophy of Religions, the most difficult was undoubtedly Private Law. “I got a bad grade, but everyone complimented me,” he remembers. “Even if the ambition is there, sometimes you have to be content. »
For students struggling with books, the teacher gives golden advice based on passion: “Don’t study things you don’t like. If you love a subject, you will succeed. This leads to the great miracle of concentration: finding yourself in a bubble where you almost forget time. »
Mind and body: the marathon as a method
To those who imagine a bookworm locked between four walls, Barbaro responds with running shoes. The secret of such perseverance in studies also lies in physical activity and in particular in the marathon.
According to the professor, running is the perfect metaphor for the academic journey: “Running with the goal of covering a distance prepares the mind for the sacrifice for the finish line.”
And his goal has not yet been achieved: despite the twelve laurel wreaths, he has already announced his next goal. Next stop? “Sciences of religions” at the University of Turin.
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By the editorial staff of Skuola.net This article is the result of the shared work of the editorial staff of Skuola.net (director Daniele Grassucci): a team of journalists, data analysts and experts from the education sector who produce original content and ideas every day, select and verify the most relevant news for students and families, guaranteeing free, accurate and transparent information.
