Students’ Reflections on Personal Brands & Stories VI

Choosing paths. Living adventures.

Stories move. They adapt. They follow us into late-night conversations, unexpected choices, and moments we didn’t see coming. Every round of reflection in this series has revealed something more, not only about storytelling, but the students themselves. Their thoughts remind me that one’s brand story isn’t static; it’s shaped in real time, as we learn, change, and move.

This sixth edition arrives in a moment of transition. Many students are weighing options: fields to explore, places to live, futures to imagine. These reflections stem from that search. Some are anchored in personal history, others in ambition or values that will define their future personal brand. Ultimately, all of them reveal how stories help us ask better questions, move with intention, and trust our own process.

Dear Storyteller, if you find yourself between chapters, pause with these voices. There’s insight in how they explore new possibilities, and how they integrate different narratives into planning their next adventure.

What do stories mean to you, and what kind of stories resonates with you at this stage of your life? Provide a couple of examples to make your point.

Testimonial #1

“To me, stories are powerful vessels of human experience, bridging diverse backgrounds and perspectives and inspiring new ways of seeing life. I’m especially drawn to real-life stories – those that reveal how experiences shape people’s mindsets and values. There’s something meaningful about stepping into someone else’s journey and seeing how it influenced their growth.

While I enjoy movies based on real-life stories, I’m also drawn to inspiring fiction in books. Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, for instance, encouraged me to trust in my path as I took the leap to move to a new country and study business – a field outside my original background. This story helped me embrace the process and stay open to growth, and now, looking back, I’m truly happy with the choice I made.”

Testimonial #2

“Stories mean a lot when they come from deep down. I really appreciate personal stories that I can relate to when it comes to life decisions and current life situations. Stories connect each other and can show that other people are also going through similar situations and have to make important decisions. Since life in the 20s can be very different, I love to hear stories from others that are in a similar phase like I am right now, moving abroad; struggling with what comes next in life and deciding where I want to go career-wise. Stories are much more meaningful when they are emotional and people show their real feelings, also when those are not always positive. During the first weeks of the Masters I got to know many people that also moved to Lisbon for their academic career, unsure if they want to return home to pursue a career in a known environment or stay abroad.”

Testimonial #3

“To me, stories are a way of framing communication. They are a tool to engage with my audience in a way that is difficult to replicate through other communication methods, allowing for a deeper connection with the listener. So, for me, stories are a tool that is used deliberately, both professionally and privately, and which I generally enjoy very much. As a result, I see the craft of storytelling as a powerful one, and one worth harnessing.

Recently, I have found myself enjoying a particular type of story that continues to capture my attention. Over the past year, non-fiction stories, often inherently following a ‘quest’ structure, seem to resonate with me. These stories are about people and how they pursue or change goals under the influence of risk, complicated decisions and others pursuing their stories. Common examples of such stories are those of Sonny Vaccaro, Carroll Shelby or Ray Kroc. Each of their stories is not only informative but captures ambition, perseverance and resilience, qualities that inspire.”

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Have you ever wondered how much of our present time we spend thinking about the future? I don’t know about you, but around 90% of the plans I made never came to light. Is that a bad thing? Not at all! Life carries its own mysteries. In fact, some talents only show up when you least expect them: midway through a project, halfway across the globe, or deep in a conversation you didn’t plan to have.

The reflections in this chapter speak to uncertainty and change. Students are choosing where to live, what to study, and who they want to become. It’s not always clear, but that’s part of their story. Decisions come with doubts: Safety vs Adventure. Comfort vs Freedom. Surprise often walks ahead of clarity.

Maybe the most important parts of ourselves aren’t visible yet. Maybe they’re still growing, taking shape through new events and everyday questions. There’s no single path forward. But there’s movement.

So maybe, just maybe, our greatest superpowers are the ones we haven’t met yet.

P.S. Before publishing any reflection, I always obtain the student’s permission to share their individual testimonial, ensuring complete anonymity. Under these terms, no personal data is ever disclosed.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog series – Students’ Reflections on Personal Brands & Stories – are solely those of the contributing students, and do not necessarily reflect my own. As such, I, Tomás Varela Pinto, cannot be held responsible for their content.