Leonardo J. Intriago

I would like to spend some words about a very special person for me: Leonardo. I guess the someone of you knows him but you don't know him from my eyes! So, this is my story of Leonardo.

Leonardo MCVP: he arrived in 2003 from Ecuador, when I was local committee president in Pisa (my home town). I knew him for the very first time in September when I came in Milan for a LCP meeting. He didn't impact on me too much, maybe because my English wasn’t so good and his Italian was even worst. By the way we worked together for AIESEC in Italy for several months, until January, when he decided to run once again for MCVP for next term and I was in the subcommittee for the election process. At that time I knew:

Leonardo the person: I had the luck to talk with him, to know him better and I discovered that he is a great person. He has strong values, a strong relationship with his home country and his family. He loves his parents and brothers and sister. I think that his family should be proud and honoured to have a such great person that loves them so much. I was so impressed by him that we started a great relationship.

Leonardo the friend: from that experience we started to talk much more, to know each other better. I discovered that he is a great cook and that he loves to cook for his friends. Somehow we have the same passion, even if I'm not as good as him. He loves to read book, like me, and he loves dancing too (I don't at all). We started to share our feelings and lives. Then I decided to run for MC and I became his team mate and I discovered:

Leonardo the mentor: he helped me in all my first MC term, he supported me in all my decision and in path AIESEC path. When I needed something or I had some problem I always asked to him. He became really important to me and I'll never forget all the support that he gave to me in that period without asking anything. He is a special person, for sure, but for me he became something different:

Leonardo the brother: through this experience that we made together, he became a kind of brother for me. I supported him for almost one year while he was starting his work experience in PwC without any money and we shared the same bed. We were living the same rhythm and habits. We shared so many things that I can't remember, and still, I feel so lucky that I spent so much time with a such great person.

Now he is Leonardo: not just Leonardo, but a person that includes all the profiles that I described before. For sure an unique person, a great person. I'm feeling strange now because I know that he's going to leave in few days and I'll not have the chance to talk with him for I don't know how long.

We had a party for him on Saturday night, where all his friends celebrate this great person that gave to everyone of us something special and unforgettable.

Thanks Leo, thank you for everything and I hope to see you once again in Italy very soon.