So Far 🛤️

To call my 38-year journey a “rollercoaster” would be an understatement. My life has been a mix of challenges, lessons, and growth. I grew up in a traditional working-class family, deeply influenced by Dom Mintoff’s social reforms. His ideas played a big part in shaping my leftist beliefs. Coming from a working-class background meant that nothing came easily. It took hard work and determination to achieve even the simplest goals, especially for someone like me, driven by (over) ambition.

Growing up in Malta during the late 80s and 90s, I witnessed substantial improvements in the quality of life for working families. Improved working conditions allowed us to afford more comforts, though life remained far from extravagant. My parents, to whom I am endlessly grateful, worked tirelessly to provide me and my siblings with more than just the essentials. They prioritised our prospects, ensuring we had access to the best possible education, including church owned primary education and eventually sustaining me in attending St. Aloysius College.

Securing admission to this prestigious secondary school required me passing the Common Entrance examination, in which I ranked within the top 100 candidates of the national pool – quite a feat at the time, in fact I still recall the happiness on my parent’s faces on receiving the results. St. Aloysius College held a long-standing reputation as Malta’s foremost secondary school, traditionally attended by the children of elites. It has provided the formation to many Prime Ministers, prominent politicians, and other distinguished professionals, solidifying its status as a cradle of the nation’s leadership and excellence.

While admission during my time was based on merit, the institution retained an air of eliteness that I found difficult to appreciate at the time. This dynamic occasionally made my experience there challenging. Nevertheless, my time at St. Aloysius College provided a solid personal and academic foundation that stimulated me to aim higher in life, equipping me with the tools to pursue my aspirations.

In my early adult years my focus was clear: I wanted to make money. I chose to start my own business – defying all the advice I was getting – because I wanted to be my own boss. At first, and against all odds I had great success in public procurement and earned well for the initial years. But between 2012 and 2013, I made some errors in judgements driven by obsessions that took over my life at the time. Facing the consequences was tough, but it taught me valuable lessons. Owning up to those blunders helped me turn my life around and focus on what really mattered.

After that turning point, my humble businesses became more rewarding, and allowed me to maintain my academic development at the University of Malta, while moving on with my life. Along the way, I also increased my civic engagement especially of political issues, joining informal campaigns. At first, my frustrations made me act out of anger, but as I matured, I took a more balanced approach, with my activism focusing on fairness, both in how society is run and in protecting the environment.

The year 2024 has marked a significant turning point in my life. Becoming a father has brought me unparalleled joy, instilling a profound sense of responsibility as I now understand that every decision I make will shape my daughter’s future. At the same time, I have begun to scale down my business activities to dedicate more time to academic research and complete my doctoral studies. While my entrepreneurial journey was both rewarding and filled with invaluable experiences, it ultimately left me unfulfilled. I believe my true calling lies in pursuing my passion for sociological research, where I aim to contribute meaningfully.

My main research interests are political sociology, social class/mobility, community resilience, wellbeing and island states.

This is my story. These are my roots.