A childhood of discoveries leading to the dreamed graduation

At 12 years old, Estefany Feliciano da Silva still didn't know which profession she wanted to pursue. Like many people at this stage of life, she had dreams, curiosities, and many possibilities ahead. The answer began to emerge at home, from the stories her mother brought back from her work in the kitchen at São João Batista Hospital in Criciúma.

The student's story is yet another entry in a series of reports highlighting the achievements of students and alumni from Unesc. This initiative is part of the University's institutional campaign for 2027 and reaches the public concurrently with the new advertising materials for the campaign.

As a kitchen assistant, the young woman's mother began to share with her a bit of the hospital routine and the activities related to patient nutrition. Among recipes, guidelines, and spreadsheets provided by the responsible nutritionist, the girl started to learn about a profession that had not been part of her plans until then.

The interest took shape during a visit to the hospital, during a Children's Day celebration. Estefany accompanied her mother, got to know the kitchen, and listened attentively to the explanations about how the place operated. It was there that her first fascination for Nutrition emerged.

“At that time, I wasn't sure about anything I wanted; I was just a child with many dreams. When I entered the kitchen, got to know the hospital, and my mother explained how it worked, I fell in love with the field of Nutrition,” she says.

Even with her newfound interest, she wanted to be sure before choosing a degree. Along the way, during high school, she decided to take a technical course in Food. The experience helped bring her even closer to the field and showed that the interest that had begun in childhood could indeed turn into a promising career.

The confirmation also came through Unesc Professions. By learning about the University, the courses, and the professional opportunities, she was able to visualize more clearly the path she wanted to follow.

“I took the technical course in Food to be sure it was what I wanted and would carry into my life. There, I fell even more in love with the field, and that's why I entered the University,” she explains.

Today, at 20 years old, Estefany is a student and balances her studies with her work as a young apprentice in the afternoon. This choice also represents an achievement within her own family. She lives with her mother, stepfather, and older brother and is the first in her family to start a degree.

New Unesc campaign features students and alumni as protagonists

The new advertising campaign from Unesc, which tells stories like Estefany's, is already out on the streets, on the radio, on TV stations, and on social media. Created in partnership between the University’s Press Advisory, Communication, Commercial and Marketing (Aicom), with the expertise of Agência Cacto and the guidance of Institutional management, the materials highlight students and alumni.

Enrollment open for new stories to be built

Those who wish to write the next chapter of their journey can now secure a spot at Unesc, which is open for enrollment for 2027. The University offers more than 60 undergraduate courses, both in-person and online, with different admission methods and scholarship and student financing programs. Information about courses and selection processes is available on the website unesc.net or via WhatsApp at (48) 99915-0433.