Laura Manzi

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

I'm Italian but I've been living in Leeds for almost 3 years. I come from an Island that faces Naples.

What made you want to apply to your course and to Leeds?

Most universities only offer Comparative Literature as a masters, and I wouldn't have been happy studying only English Literature. Then the prestige of the University and finally the city. Leeds is small enough to walk around, visit my friend and move easily from town to the university. But it is also big enough to offer a variety of opportunities: from shows to concerts, restaurants and interesting events. Leeds keeps me very active. 

What is it that makes you passionate about your area of study?

The way literature speaks to me and makes me grow. I wouldn't be the person I am if I hadn't studied and read the books I read. World Literature let me understand people and places and habits. What I love about the University of Leeds is the focus on postcolonial studies, which is a field that I've never studied before. It made me discover new interests and link literature with wider historical, political and sociological discourses. 

What aspects of the course do you find the most enjoyable?  

The theory. I love reading long essays and about the historical and social context of a book. 'The Death of the Author' and 'The Second Sex' are probably the best theories I read. I enjoyed the opportunity to explore other subjects by taking discovery modules. I also enjoyed the variety of opportunities offered by the union, the School and the community. These have all been crucial in shaping my educational path and helping me find out what I really enjoy. 

What are your next steps once you graduate?

I will continue studying and learning, moving and migrating. The course taught me that migrants, like people who read, live many lives at the same time.