Paola Sula, the daughter of politician Dashnor Sula, has shared a heartfelt account of her struggle with panic attacks and her journey toward a special mission to save animals.
Appearing on the show "Ftesë në 5" with host Bieta Sulo, she described how a difficult moment in her life brought her closer to puppies, turning them into both therapy and a passion.
Despite her well-known surname, Paola emphasized that she has chosen to build her identity independently, walking her own personal path, always with her family's support. She revealed that she decided to keep the surname Sula even after marriage, describing her relationship with her father as very close, where they share advice and daily life challenges.
Recalling her childhood, she shared a meaningful story from her birth in Elbasan, when her father, then a prosecutor, stressed that the only thing that mattered was that the child was healthy, considering the birth of a daughter a blessing.
Bieta: Naturally, the surname is important. Paola: Even after marriage, I chose to keep my surname Sula. I am somewhat of a daddy's girl because we share everything to some extent, even work; he gives me advice. I was more pampered as a child, and now we are companions in life's challenges.
Bieta: Were you the long-awaited daughter? Paola: I believe so. Dad has always told me a very interesting story. I was born in Elbasan, and at that time, my dad was a prosecutor. When I was born, the doctor was afraid to tell my dad that a girl had been born, but my dad said, "What are you saying? For me, it's important that she is healthy." My dad welcomed my arrival with great joy; he tells me about childhood memories, and I have very beautiful memories from my childhood.
Paola: So we did a tour: Albania, Italy, Switzerland, and in the end, I chose Switzerland as a country with more discipline, where I could find myself more because I am also a perfectionist.
Switzerland was quite a challenging place, both economically and academically. I applied to only one university there and didn't apply in Albania or anywhere else. Thank God, I got in and finished university there. Both my mom and dad wanted me to study abroad; they have always been supportive of me, and for them, it was the right decision.
Regarding her education, Paola said she studied in Switzerland, choosing the University of Lugano. She admitted to facing major challenges, especially due to academic pressure, which culminated in a panic attack during her final year of her Bachelor's degree.
Bieta: You studied in Lugano, and there, like a bolt from the blue, the panic attack appeared. Paola: I didn't understand the reason. Now, thinking about it after many years, I believe it might be related to my studies because at the University of Lugano, if you fail an exam three times, your entire schooling is burned, and you are no longer accepted at any other university in Switzerland. I think the immense pressure from the statistics subject caused the panic. It was the last subject in the final year of my Bachelor's, and I always thought, "What if I don't pass it? My parents have sacrificed so much for me, and my future could be ruined." I think that's where my panic attack and anxiety started. There were days when I couldn't breathe, I felt like I was going to faint. These situations forced me to see a doctor. She told me it wasn't anything dangerous and was against me taking medication. My husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, helped me a lot; he even put his work aside for a few months and supported me greatly. Breathing exercises were very important; they even taught them to my family members, who had to say that there was nothing dangerous.
A turning point during this period was adopting a problematic puppy that was at risk of being abandoned. Paola decided to take him without hesitation, naming him Anakin. "He became a cure for me," she said, adding that this is where her love and dedication to animals began.
This experience further pushed her to get concretely involved, even establishing a foundation for dogs, with the aim of helping animals in need and saving as many lives as possible.
Paola: The support, the hugs, the contact with loved ones—I transferred that to my puppy. This came as a cure because the same doctor told my parents and husband, "I suggest you get a puppy, not a cat, because a cat will keep you locked inside the house, but a puppy will make you go out for walks." And this happened with a puppy that was problematic. At first, I didn't want to take him; I said I would continue with my exercises. But when they told me about this puppy that was going to be thrown away because he was the most mixed-breed among his siblings, without even thinking, I said I would take him. That's how this great love for my puppy Anakin began.
In the interview, Paola also spoke about her love story with her husband Mateo, whom she met in Switzerland during her studies. Initially friends, their relationship naturally developed into a romantic one.
Bieta: How did you meet your husband? Paola: Mateo is of Italian origin but has lived in Switzerland for over 12 years and has also obtained Swiss citizenship. I had just started my first year of my Bachelor's, while Mateo had just finished his, and we met on his last day of school. I was studying, and he was celebrating. A friend of Mateo's came and said to me, "Will you take a break?" So I went to the room where they were celebrating because they had just graduated, and surprisingly, I clicked in conversation with Mateo, and that's how our acquaintance began. He asked for my number to give me his notes, and we remained friends for two years before we got together. Everything transitioned very naturally from friendship to a relationship.