The beginning of each semester is always an exciting time at Les Roches Marbella. New students arrive eager to begin the journey towards their future while old students return, ready to tackle the challenges presented before them. New friendships are bonded and old friends meet up to share their experiences from internships and holiday adventures. The feeling is one of a large extended family meeting up after a long journey.
The mood on campus this time of year is always so uplifting and the energy that runs through the corridors presents a vigorous, upbeat atmosphere that not only inspires but motivates each and every one of us. Walking around campus you can feel this energy running through everyone, from the faculty and administration right down to maintenance and housekeeping. And the students, they are without a doubt, the lifeblood of this energy and are what drive us to make each new semester an unforgettable one.
Although they are extremely nervous and at times a bit overwhelmed with emotion, new students soon find themselves enveloped in the moment and after a few short days on campus the unknowns and unforeseeables transform into a vision of a clear path of the future. Each of them soon find their place and in no time they form a bond that most often lasts well beyond their short tenures as college students.
It all begins from the moment they unload their luggage from the taxi and stand looking up at the engraved pediment entryway that reads “Estudios Universitarios de Marbella”. At that moment they know their lifelong journey has begun. Then, upon entering the campus, they suddenly leave the doubts, the questions, and the fears at the entrance – they are now a privileged part of the Les Roches Marbella community.Once they unpack and orient themselves on campus, the hallways and Café Bistro become invigorated with lively chatter, laughter, and smiling faces everywhere you turn. They quickly realize they are not alone and that all of them feel the same, whether they come from Mexico or Morocco, Azerbaijan or India – each of them share the same dream of becoming hospitality professionals.
Then on Saturday morning, the official induction ceremony begins and suddenly the nerves come rushing back once again as they all gather together in the auditorium for their first official act. Fortunately, this only lasts a few short minutes as the Student Services Director, Mr. Soler gives them an inspiring presentation and introduces them to the Les Roches Marbella Way of Life. From Saturday onwards, fear of the unknown is replaced with an eagerness to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
Once the induction ceremony has concluded on Saturday afternoon, students usually want to get out and explore our beautiful city together with their newfound friends. There are surprises on every corner in Marbella: from the majestic beachfront promenade to the historic old town and world famous Puerto Banus. Marbella is a city like no other and this essence resonates in the spirit of Les Roches as well.
With so many new beautiful new sights and exciting experiences, time tends to go by rather quickly and before they know it, it’s Tuesday and classes are underway. The challenges begin bright and early on Tuesday morning during the first Roll Call with Mr. Djeebet, our Director of F&B. Mr. Djeebet is always a motivational force for new students and wastes no time getting them prepared for the demanding work that lies ahead. At this moment they are given their first lesson on being hospitality professionals and introduced to the values of quality service as the building blocks of success in this demanding industry.From Tuesday onwards, students have little time to reflect on everything they are experiencing. There are so many new experiences and learning going on from day one that by the second week they are well broken-in and feeling like seasoned professionals. The momentum carries them forward throughout the semester as each new day is so much different than the one before. By the time they know it, Career Day has arrived and they are busy preparing to meet the hotels where they will soon undertake their first internships.
For today though, it’s a very special day – it’s their first day and we aim to make it one they will never forget. To paraphrase a popular saying from the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Life is a journey, not a destination.”
Good luck to all of you from all of us at Les Roches Marbella in this, the first giant step in that journey!
(To learn more about a career in Hospitality Management, please visit our website by clicking here.)
