Hello! my name is Morgan Kriley and I am studying abroad in Florence, Italy through the Pitt GBI program. I am a junior studying marketing and business information systems with a certificate in leadership and ethics. Ever since my freshman year at Pitt, I knew that I wanted to participate in a study abroad experience. At school, I am on the executive board of the Fashion Business Association and involved in an honors fraternity. I am so grateful for the opportunities that Pitt Business has provided me with thus far. For example, this past semester I had the opportunity to attend New York Fashion Week and participate in an internship with the university’s retail stores. I am particularly interested in a career path regarding fashion, retail, or merchandising. I am sure studying abroad in Florence will be just as an important experience as my trip to New York was.
Beyond schoolwork and extracurriculars, I enjoy cooking, running, and hiking. I live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with my parents and two younger sisters. As much as my family and I love to explore new places, most of our travels have been limited to the east coast, so this semester I am so excited to embark on my first journey across the Atlantic!
One of the main reasons I chose to study abroad in Italy was because of my family; three of my grandparents immigrated from Italy when they were in their twenties. My Nonna and Nonno (Grandmother and Grandfather in Italian) came from a small town east of Naples, which is about five hours from Florence. I am lucky to have grown up experiencing parts of Italian culture, such as enjoying huge pasta lunches with my family every Sunday. I wanted to experience even more of this Italian lifestyle firsthand and explore the beautiful and diverse cities of Italy. I specifically chose to study abroad in Florence because Pitt Business offers the Global Business Institute program, which allows me to take classes relevant to my major while also taking classes that fulfill gen-ed requirements. It is not as big or “touristy” as Rome and is still a city so rich in history and culture that I do not expect there to ever be a dull moment.
One academic goal I have for myself is to become fluent in Italian. My grandparents often still speak Italian and I unfortunately can only understand very little of it. I am glad that Pitt requires its student to take Italian in Florence because it allows us to be more involved with the culture. Additionally, I am excited to be taking international marketing and learn from an Italian professor’s perspective. Professionally, I hope to gain a global perspective that allows me to better work with all types of people. If I were to have an opportunity to work internationally, I hope that living abroad for three months would make me more comfortable accepting the position. One personal goal I am very excited to work on is getting out of my comfort zone. After two and a half years at Pitt, everything has begun to feel very familiar and comfortable. I hope that during these three months I will be able to meet new people and be more confident navigating difficult situations.
Since arriving in Florence, I can confidentially say there has not been a single moment of regret. I have already had such great opportunities to experience a new culture, make new friends, and learn a lot about myself. I cannot wait to share my experience for the next three months!