Letter for the new academic year

My dear friends, students of Tirana,

For ten years now, I have written to you personally every September, wishing you success and prosperity. So, even though virtually, I didn't want to miss out this year to give you courage with a heartfelt message.

This year is especially special for me, as my son is also going into first grade. Although I am heartbroken that I cannot accompany him to school on his first day, I know that many other families have had challenges this year as well. But this should not take away the joy of this new beginning, new hope. So, from the bottom of my heart, I wish you success for the new school year 2025-2026.

Secondly, a sincere apology. We have built 50 new schools in Tirana, totally European, and 110 new kindergartens and nurseries. This makes me proud of the work in the municipality and of all those who have given us a hand. However, I feel regret that we stumbled in our free school lunch project – an idea that I have long wanted and that we were finally ready to implement. Lunch would feed the children of Tirana from left and right, locals and newcomers. Arbitrarily stopping the will of the people to govern in the municipality produces consequences, of which the school lunch project is only one of them. However, the responsibility remains with me and I will recover it as soon as I can.

And finally, 3 tips that you will hopefully find useful:

1.

Embrace knowledge. Study hard, read a lot, acquire knowledge, not just grades. Knowledge is the only property you will always have with you, and it cannot be destroyed by earthquakes, floods, or seizure. It is always yours and for your benefit.

Tirana and our nation can only be led forward by those who excel in knowledge, those who work hard and bring innovation, not those who constantly hinder. The city is brought to light by those who pursue good efforts, not those who persecute good people.

So, become hunters of ideas, not hunters of people. In a democratic society, where you can be anything, choose to be lions, not wolves.

Learn history so as not to repeat it! Bend the Albanian language beautifully to use it as a medicine that heals, not as poison in networks and portals against each other. Use knives in a cooking class, but never in schoolyards against your friend – your generation cannot be the new copy of the old generation from the TVs of the night before. Embrace knowledge, friends, and it will honor you.

2.

Embrace success and don't lament temporary setbacks and obstacles.

If one of your friends scores a 10, makes a 3-pointer or wins the Olympics, celebrate together. I know that in our society, success is often an unforgivable sin, but you are hope for a new Albania, where solidarity and kindness overcome arrogance and ignorance.

Falling is not the opposite of success, nor does it last forever. Life can bring you to your knees and lower than your worst dreams – well, ask me – but if you get up and run again, harder and faster, you will find yourself and the place you deserve.

And if you see others falling, do not rejoice in their misfortune, because injustice somewhere quickly turns into injustice everywhere, so rubbing your hands together at the suffering of others neither helps nor honors you.

Embrace each other's successes and lend a helping hand to your friend to rise faster and advance stronger.

3.

Family and friends cannot be replaced by technology. Use digital tools, but remember that we are human. Artificial intelligence can solve math problems or compose a song for you, but it does not have the empathy of a friend who hugs you, cries and laughs with you, lifts your spirits when you stumble, cheers you on when you get back up.

Spend quality time with your families; there is no phone, avatar, or chatbot that replaces parents, grandparents, siblings, or siblings. Life is neither infinite nor predictable, so enjoy every moment and every opportunity to be together, talk, play, and travel.

I, like them, am very proud of you. In these 10 years that I have known you – some of you, from kindergarten to high school – I have seen the future in you, and it has seemed brilliant to me. I have seen young Albanians full of kindness, humility, knowledge, diligence, wisdom and love.

Strength, then, for another great year!

I love you so much!

Lali Eri