Former Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is already busy with the next phase in his extraordinary career. He has gone back to ‘teaching’, but in a very specific way: he is focused on ‘inspiring’ young people, encouraging them to pursue their education/ make the best of their opportunities – and promoting a series of lesson-debates.
Today in Águeda (Aveiro district), his new initiative got started – and the charismatic former head of state was greeted like a star: hundreds of secondary school pupils thronged to get a photograph / take a selfie, or simply talk to him.
Reports refer to the riotous clapping, the shouts of “Marcelo, Marcelo!” and the clear delight on the faces of those who crammed the pavilion to take part in the event.
This was a spangle-dust reminder of the power of a man who has been in everyone’s living room (virtually) for the last 10 years. He may be ‘refusing to talk about politics’ these days, but he is happy to talk about education, about vocation, about young people’s futures – and it looks like he will have no shortage of willing listeners.
Lusa explains that today’s event saw the 77-year-old recall life experiences, take questions – and try generally to ‘enthuse’ and encourage.
“They’re in secondary school and they’re making choices. So it’s good for them to think about those choices, about the world that lies ahead of them, and to give a little thought to the path they want to follow.
“I think they’ve listened carefully and will think things through carefully,” he told the posse of reporters who were clearly delighted to have the former president back working his inimitable ‘magic’. “Some have already made their choice, others haven’t. Let’s see if this helps.”
Marcelo added that he was “surprised by some of the youngsters’ interventions: “They spoke very freely (…) I found this to be a remarkable display of maturity, compared with my recent experiences on the same topic. They speak much more freely, have more ideas, and have no problem voicing their doubts, hesitations and frustrations.”
And what did his audience think? Bernardo Gonçalves, 17, was one of the students who put a question to Marcelo, and said he was taking away ‘some very important lessons’ to help him achieve his dream of becoming an inspector for the PJ Judicial Police.
‘Above all, it’s about studying more, working hard, and if I want to, I think I’ll achieve my goals (…) I think Professor Marcelo has helped me immensely, and all of us. He’s a fantastic person, and today we’ve all grown a little bit more and learnt a little bit more from him,’ he said.
Next week, Marcelo will be promoting an event “Is reading in fashion”, focusing on school libraries – again in Águeda.
As noticiasaominuto explains: “During his second mandate, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa repeatedly stressed that when he ceased his role as head of state he wanted to travel around the country’s schools~primary and secondary, his priorities being (promoting) reading and book commentaries.”
There is also talk of teaching at a university in California, but closer to the Olympics, in 2028, which the former president says he wants to attend – showing that he doesn’t seem to have any kind of conventional retirement in mind, and still feels there is a lot more that he can ‘give’.
Sources: SIC/ Noticiasaominuto/ Público
