This article comes into being from the memories and experiences of student activists who played key roles at different points in time. It aims to reflect about the transformation of young adults into full-grown students, as well as the political meaning of this passage. In order to approach this theme, it was necessary to make some critical points in regards to current research on youth. These observations specifically focused on the interpretations made by these studies regarding the political involvement of young people as well as comparisons theses studies made between different time frames and contexts of student politics (student activism). By resourcing to a classic masterpiece on student movement, the present discussion points out how pertinent and timely Marxist thought still is. In doing so, it brings into light the political meaning of the student movement effervescence of the 1960's. Furthermore, it was also necessary to succinctly highlight the transformations that took place in Brazil's tertiary education (higher education) along with the metamorphosis it underwent - and still undergoes, as it comes across the impositions brought forth by capitalism.
university; student polithics; memory