María Romero, student of Aerospace Engineering at ETSID, wins the XV Short Story Literary Contest Alonso Zamora Vicente
«I started writing my first novel when I was 11 years old«
María Romero Pérez, student of the third year of the Degree in Aerospace Engineering of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), is the winner of the XV Short Story Literary Contest Alonso Zamora Vicente for her work Pestaña vacío.
The award, granted since 2005 by the University of Nebrija, carries with it a prize of 1,400 euros (100 of them through a gift voucher in La Librería de Hoyo), a diploma, an institutional gift, and printed and digital editions of the victor story
The aim of the contest is to encourage writing, from the academic field, among university students, pre-university students and staff of the different university communities.
«A new push at a time when I needed to believe more in my stories»
Happy for the award, which was delivered to her at the Madrid university on Wednesday, María acknowledges that the prize has, for her, «a meaning that goes beyond recognition or an economic amount», since it has meant for her «an new push in the way of writing, a pat on the back at a time when I needed to believe more in my stories. »
However, it is not the first time that the literary talent of this young woman born in Benidorm on October 31, 1998 is recognized. At the age of 16, he won the Jordi Sierra i Fabra for young writers with Cenizas de un octubre helado – published by the publishing house SM – and, subsequently, he won the 1st Fotohistorias Contest Feel.
«When I was little, I always filled my notebooks with my stories,» recalls the student at the School of Design Engineering (ETSID-UPV), «and when I was 11, I started my first novel, it was at the beginning of my high school education when I started. to write constantly. «
Engineering and literature, two fundamental passions in her life.
To her liking for the letters, Maria opted for the scientific branch when choosing her studies, and does not consider both paths as mutually exclusive.
«Encasing us in one field or another without being able to peek at new ones is a mistake: for me, engineering and literature are fundamental parts of my life, and the passion for one does not mean abandonment or less interest in the other,» he says. the student of the UPV. «On the contrary, both fields give me very different knowledge and feelings, so by alternating them I can stay motivated without falling into an eternal routine,» he adds.
In fact, facing the future, María acknowledges that her dream «is to continue writing while I continue my scientific development, I would like to dedicate myself professionally to writing while working in the field of aerospace engineering.
Maybe in the maintenance part, or in design … I’m not clear. «
‘Pestaña vacía‘
With regard to the winning story, María points out that Pestaña vacía «tells the story of two very old sisters who, after being widowed, begin to live together in the house of their father’s town.»
«The story,» he continues, «narrates two daily episodes of their lives with traditionalist, superstitious, and sometimes dramatic touches, and the idea came up one afternoon, as a result of collecting various customs that exist in my family.»
Satisfied in a UPV that «is focused on the education of its students»
A great example of the comprehensive education that the UPV works to promote, María feels particularly satisfied with the institution in which she studies, combining her scientific vocation with her literary passion.
«The UPV is focused on the education of its students, offering us opportunities for our academic development at all times: courses, business talks, internships … From my school, the ETSID, the formation of different teams is promoted to develop different projects «, concludes María, a clear example of the professional profile and person to whom, surely, she expects a bright future as an engineer, writer … or maybe, who knows, in both areas.