A Decisão de Sofia

Sofia tinha vinte anos e estudava Direito na Universidade de Coimbra. Era uma boa estudante, mas não era feliz. Passava as noites a pensar no futuro. Pensava nos anos que ainda faltavam, nos exames, nas aulas que não gostava. Pensava, sobretudo, naquilo que realmente queria fazer.

Sofia was twenty years old and studied Law at the University of Coimbra. She was a good student, but she was not happy. She spent her nights thinking about the future. She thought about the years still to come, the exams, the classes she didn't like. She thought, above all, about what she really wanted to do.

O que ela queria era estudar Arte. Desde pequena que desenhava tudo — a família, os amigos, as ruas antigas de Lisboa onde cresceu. Mas o pai pensava que Arte não era um curso sério. "Pensa bem antes de tomar uma decisão", dizia ele sempre. Sofia pensava. Pensava muito.

What she wanted was to study Art. Since she was small she had drawn everything — her family, her friends, the old streets of Lisbon where she grew up. But her father thought that Art was not a serious course. "Think carefully before making a decision," he always said. Sofia thought. She thought a lot.

Uma tarde de outubro, Sofia estava no seu quarto pequeno em Coimbra. Olhou para a janela. Começou a pensar diferente. "Porque é que penso sempre no que os outros querem? Devo pensar no que eu quero." Pegou no caderno e começou a desenhar. Desenhou a cidade, o rio Mondego, o telhado das casas antigas.

One October afternoon, Sofia was in her small room in Coimbra. She looked out of the window. She started to think differently. "Why do I always think about what others want? I should think about what I want." She picked up her sketchbook and started to draw. She drew the city, the Mondego river, the rooftops of the old houses.

Nessa noite, telefonou à sua amiga Margarida. "Estou a pensar mudar de curso. Penso que Direito não é para mim." A amiga ouviu com atenção. "Já pensavas nisso há muito tempo, não pensavas? Segue o teu coração." Era simples quando a Margarida dizia assim.

That evening, she called her friend Margarida. "I'm thinking of changing course. I think Law isn't for me." Her friend listened carefully. "You've been thinking about this for a long time, haven't you? Follow your heart." It was simple when Margarida put it like that.

No fim de semana, foi a Lisboa visitar a família. O jantar foi silencioso. Depois, Sofia disse ao pai: "Pai, tenho pensado muito e decidi mudar para Arte." O pai pôs o garfo na mesa. "Pensas bem? Um curso de Arte não dá emprego." Sofia respirou fundo. "Penso que estás enganado."

At the weekend, she went to Lisbon to visit the family. Dinner was silent. Afterwards, Sofia said to her father: "Dad, I've been thinking a lot and I've decided to change to Art." Her father put his fork on the table. "Have you thought about this properly? An Art degree doesn't give you a job." Sofia took a deep breath. "I think you're wrong."

Foi a primeira vez que Sofia disse isso ao pai. A mãe olhou para os dois com preocupação. Mas o pai ficou quieto por um momento, e depois disse: "Se pensas assim, então fala com o teu orientador." Sofia não esperava isso. Talvez o pai pensasse diferente do que ela pensava. E talvez a sua decisão não fosse assim tão difícil.

It was the first time Sofia had said that to her father. Her mother looked at the two of them with concern. But her father was quiet for a moment, and then said: "If you think so, then speak to your academic advisor." Sofia hadn't expected that. Perhaps her father thought differently from what she had thought. And perhaps her decision wasn't so difficult after all.