For those who believe that digital natives navigate and discover exclusively through technology, our colleague Delia Pangrate brings a retro challenge.

The newest member of the Connections team, having joined Connections a month ago right after graduating in Communication and Public Relations from SNSPA, Delia is an avid reader and collector of vinyl and old tapes (a short history here, for those who may have forgotten what they’re used for).

Booktube and Goodreads bring her as much joy as physically flipping through the pages of a book, and although she’s the newest member of the team, Delia has integrated quickly and is open to sharing the story of her passions.

A Multicultural exploration that helps you grow

“I’ve only just started at Connections, but I quickly learned the essential tasks specific to a Front Office job: my role involves facilitating communication and collaboration between the company and its partners—clients, suppliers, and collaborators—which contributes to maintaining strong relationships,” she says.

In her free time, she loves reading, and collecting old tapes, and plans to add more vinyls to her personal collection.

“Reading has greatly helped me in personal development, and I’ve tried to learn new things from each book. The Life of a Stupid Man by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, for example, inspired me to research Japanese history, and I discovered important historical periods like the Edo and Meiji eras, which I tried to understand through additional study. I was also fascinated by the religions practiced there, especially Buddhism, the belief in Buddha (originally from India), and Shintoism, Japan’s traditional religion, which involves the worship of various deities and spirits (kami),” shares Delia.

A Family Legacy Carried Forward and Shared Digitally

Her passion for literature was instilled by her mother, who recommended fiction books. She later discovered the Booktube community, which further increased her appetite for reading.

“Although I started reading when I was quite young, four years ago I became a dedicated reader. I simply fell in love with how a book can transport you to a completely different world.”

“I set a goal to read 20 books this year, but so far, I’ve only managed to read six, one of which is The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. A bizarre but addictive book. It’s the longest book I’ve read in English so far (600 pages). I can say it was a challenge, especially since I was also busy with my thesis, but I tried not to put pressure on myself, reading purely for pleasure when I had the time and energy.”

Delia feels she has taken something from each book she’s read and has found a way to pass on her inspiration through reviews.

“When I read, I like to use post-it notes, markers, and jot down my favorite passages in a notebook to revisit over time. I also enjoy writing book reviews on Goodreads.”

Blues. Soul. Jazz. Alternative Rock. Lofi Rap. An authentic exploration of favorite artists.

In her free time, when she doesn’t have a book in hand, you can find Delia at vintage fairs—the most authentic way to discover rare copies of good music. For her collection, she often strolls through bazaars or fairs, and if she finds an album she likes at a good price, she’s quick to add it to her collection.

“Collecting CDs and tapes started spontaneously a few years ago, from my love of listening to music. The classic way of playing music on a cassette player or CD gives me a special satisfaction when I pick out the album I want to listen to,” shares Delia, who also has a few recommendations for diverse musical tastes.

“When it comes to music, I recommend Frank, Amy Winehouse’s debut album, perfect for blues, soul, or jazz lovers. I also like Nothing But Thieves by the band Nothing But Thieves—some of my favorites and ideal for those into alternative rock, and Circles by Mac Miller, for fans of jazz rap/lofi rap.”

Her favorite album?

🎶 “It’s always hard for me to choose between Lust For Life by Lana Del Rey and IGOR by Tyler, The Creator.” 😊

Tips for Beginner Readers

Don’t force yourself to read something that doesn’t interest you; look for books that spark your curiosity.

Start with a short story collection, a poetry book, or a short novel. Everything should be gradual, without pressure, and only with an open heart.

Starter Titles

📖 Desire by Haruki Murakami—a short story collection I’ve recommended to many people, especially those who want to read something brief.

📖 Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng—a great book that highlights family dynamics in a respectable suburb.

📖 If you like poetry, I suggest The Gardener: Poems about Love and Life.

📖 Finally, my favorite series is a three-book set called A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, which falls into the mystery and crime genres. It centers around a young woman who, for her graduation project, chooses to investigate a real, unsolved murder case in her town.

Long before joining the world of numbers and accounting situations at Connections, and even after, one of our colleagues was, attention!, a football player! And not just an amateur, since football is integrated into his lifestyle: he has been practicing it since childhood and even played alongside professionals.

Accountant by day, football player by DNA, Ștefan from Accounting, as we call him, is always an athlete, only he practices football during his free time.

When he’s at Connections, he dribbles through numbers and accounting documents, while in his free time, he chases the ball, performs feints, and shoots at goal on the football field. And this has honed his ability to play in a team, sharpened his mind, and brought him a personal history marked by achievements and unique experiences that few of us have the opportunity to go through.

Football passion: a family legacy

For Ștefan, football is both a passion and a family legacy—a way of keeping alive the memory of evenings spent with his grandfather, watching matches with bated breath.

“I discovered football watching a game with my grandfather. I remember it was a Steaua – FC Baia Mare match. My grandfather, being from Baia Mare, supported the hometown team, but I began to sympathize with Steaua, which won the game 7-0. Since then, I’ve been fascinated by the game, and one of the players who inspired me was Marius Lăcătuș, who scored at least one goal per game back then.”

Later, he began playing with the ball whenever he stepped outside. He made friends with the older neighborhood kids and joined their team. Of course, from this position, he didn’t have the luxury of choosing which position to play, but it didn’t matter. He was just happy to be able to play, to feel the adrenaline, and to be part of a team that stepped onto the field together.

From playground football to professional leagues

He watched his favorite team’s matches on TV, played with friends, then with teammates, insisted, and got better. Soon, doors to performance began to open: he was selected for his first football team, Temerarii. Later, he was recruited to play for I.M.G.B. – the team of the Bucharest Heavy Machinery Enterprise.

“At I.M.G.B., I played junior football in the municipal championship, which had 13 teams. We managed to become municipal champions. I learned to play as a right-back, and then I played on the right wing and even as a forward.”

 All roads lead to… football

After tasting the sweet victory, Ștefan took a break from competitive football and focused on attending a theoretical high school, where studies and exams took center stage.

However, in 2006, his path crossed football once more: he was selected to participate in a TV show on Prima TV, where contestants trained for three months like real professional players, under the guidance of coaches Jean Vlădoiu and Alexandru Andrași. At the end, they played an official match against a team of retired professional football players, including members of the Romanian national team.

“The training was intense during those three months, but we had all the necessary conditions: training and playing equipment, the National Football Team’s training base at Mogoșoaia, fields, gym facilities, friendly matches with the Romania National Team juniors, a unique match with the Rahova Penitentiary inmates’ team, another match with the Romanian women’s champion team, a mountain training camp at Fundățica, interviews, appearances in magazines. We even had a team anthem composed by Voltaj and a psychologist, just like a professional team.”

They were then invited to a beach football tournament, where many well-known teams participated, such as Steaua, Dinamo, FC Argeș, and the Romanian artists’ team. There, he had the chance to play alongside famous footballers like Belodedici, Bogdan Mara, Stângaciu, Mateuț, Prodan, Stoica, Jean Vlădoiu, Pițurcă, Constantinovic, and many others.

These experiences left a lasting mark on his discipline, team spirit, and his ability to continuously learn and improve.

Performance “with the ball,” whether in math or sport

Practicing a sport for many years doesn’t go without its “repercussions,” says Ștefan. He is in excellent physical shape and has learned the meaning of teamwork, how to rely on others, and how to bring out the best in them – and we’re happy to see this every day in the Connections team.

“Football has given me confidence in myself, contributing to better physical and mental health, and has also been an excellent way to relax. I believe football also contributes to a clearer mind, especially if you dedicate time to studying as well. During intense study periods or exams, evening football matches were always refreshing and a great way to unwind.”

Although he has put aside the story of stadiums full of cheering fans, football still plays an important role in his life: he plays weekly football matches with friends, and whenever he gets the chance, he’s in the stands, chanting for his favorite team, FCSB, or for the Romanian National Team. Occasionally, he watches other teams that are in good form because he enjoys seeing talented players in action. This passion has continued to evolve through each stage of his life, showing us that a true passion always finds its place in our lives.

Tips for aspiring football players

⚽ Play for the love of the game and enjoy it!
⚽ Train consistently and seize every opportunity to get on the field, as modern football emphasizes physical preparation and tactical play.
⚽ Coaches and role models in sports are crucial for progress. Today, there are plenty of matches to watch and learn from, and the internet is full of drills, tactics, and dribbles. Surround yourself with more experienced players, from whom you can always learn.
⚽ To keep playing at a high level even as you age, it’s essential to stay healthy. That means avoiding injuries, eating healthily, getting enough rest, and steering clear of habits that don’t align with a sporting lifestyle, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, or using harmful substances.