Through this study abroad program, the soft skills I have noticed that I have developed the most are communication skills and independence.
Being able to communicate effectively is essential in all aspects of life. Whether it is in your future job, with your professors, or with your friends, ample communication is necessary for success. Despite many Italians speaking English, there is definitely still a language barrier present. To overcome this language barrier, I have relied on my nonverbal communication skills. I have improved my ability to read communication cues. For example, if I am speaking to an Italian, I watch their facial expressions and body language carefully to ensure I am making sense to them. Being surrounded by a different language has allowed me to slow down and work on my communication skills.
In addition, studying abroad has allowed me to become more independent. Being without my friends and family is different for me, but I have been growing more and more independent. I have taken every task into my own hands, which has given me the confidence that I am okay on my own. An example of this would be when I had to navigate the first few weeks without a credit card because mine got canceled the day I left. I had to go about getting a new one and receiving it on my own, which proved challenging for me. I had to go to the post office three different times, waiting over an hour each time. The language barrier proved challenging, but as I mentioned above, I was able to rely on my communication skills to overcome it. After much persistence, I got my credit card. This entire experience proved to me that I was capable of handling my own troubles.
During my internship, I have learned many relevant copywriting skills, like search engine optimization and content creation. I have done many tasks with keyword analysis, where I parse through keywords in order to optimize search engine results. Following the research, I integrate the keywords into website titles and subtitles and into the main text. In addition to keyword research, I have performed a competitive analysis for my host company, and I am currently cultivating a pitch deck for a new social media account from the company. This involves extensive research on accounts of other companies, as well as an overview of how the company should brand themselves on this social media platform.
When navigating cross-cultural situations, I find it important to always be understanding. Everyone you meet has a different story. They bring different experiences, values, and hardships with them. It is important to remember that while we may be in the same place at the same time, our journey and reason for being in that place are likely very different. Interacting with locals and other program participants has opened my eyes and heightened my appreciation for the different perspectives everyone has.