As a low-income student from Italy, moving to Geneva to pursue a Master’s in International Economics was a dream come true—but also the beginning of one of the toughest journeys I’ve ever embarked on. From the very start, I knew I would have to support myself financially. That meant working the maximum number of hours allowed, often juggling two or even three jobs at the same time—all while trying to keep up with a very demanding academic programme.

Over time, this rhythm became incredibly exhausting. I often felt overwhelmed and discouraged. Studying and working full-time was not just a logistical challenge; it also deeply impacted my self-confidence. I found myself thinking, “I will never have the time to study as much as I’d like. I will never be as prepared or successful as my peers who don’t have to work this way.”

It felt like being a low-income student meant starting from a disadvantage I could never quite overcome.

One particularly difficult day, between my shifts and econometrics problem sets, I remembered the Student Wellbeing & Support Service. I had seen it mentioned in newsletters, and on a whim, I reached out. That moment marked a real turning point.

And from the moment I sat down with Eliane, something shifted. She listened to me—not just to my words, but to everything I was carrying. I told her how hard it is to be a low-income student. To always feel like I’m running behind. To want to study deeply, but simply not have the time—because I need to work so much just to be here. I told her how I felt like this was a disadvantage I’d never be able to overcome. And she helped me see things differently. 

She reminded me that working so hard isn’t a weakness—it’s strength. That showing up every day, even when it’s tough, is already something to be proud of. Eliane taught me practical ways to manage my priorities, exercises to help me remember why I’m making all these sacrifices, and how to stop viewing everything through the lens of struggle—just because I’ve always had to fight, doesn’t mean everything has to feel like a battle. She also helped me find tools to deal with anxiety and introduced me to short meditations that help me pause, reset, and face each day with more clarity and calm.

But most of all, she helped me reconnect with why I chose to study economics in the first place. My experience—navigating financial insecurity while trying to access quality education—made me realise how unfair the system can be. I want to become an economist because I’ve lived the obstacles I now want to understand and help change and use Economics to give a voice to those who don’t have one—to the invisible, the unheard.

To any student who feels they are carrying too much: this service is here for you. I never imagined how impactful a single conversation could be, until I experienced it myself. I can truly say that my experience at the Graduate Institute would not be the same without it.