As quickly as it came, my time abroad in Florence has ended. I cannot believe it is over, as this was an experience that I will be forever grateful for. I thank you for your faith in me. 

I applied to this program with hope, and with aspirations bigger than myself. I wanted to assimilate into a new culture, to broaden my horizons both literally and non literally, and I believe I did just that. Before this experience I had never been outside of the United States, and have barely traveled at all. Being from a small town in rural Pennsylvania, the news of my trip was met with gracious blessings and warm wishes. With my roommates turned best friends, I was able to visit multiple places within and outside of Italy. We went to Rome, Venice, Cinque Terre, the Amalfi Coast, and Nice. I saw sights that I had dreamed of seeing since I was young.  I had the opportunity to go places that few people in my family or from home have been to or will ever get to see, and that knowledge comes with great humility. Everything felt surreal, and it still does.

Being exposed to everything unfamiliar, I was able to capitalize on this unfamiliarity and develop skills that I am certain will benefit me in my academic and professional lives. Most prominent is adaptability. This trait is beneficial in any setting that is subject to change, and now I feel that I am quicker to respond to differences and the uncomfortable. I also learned budgeting skills that will greatly help me not only as a finance and accounting major, but as an individual living in the real world. I also improved group work skills that will help in an academic setting and in my future career, thanks to my classes.  

I noticed in myself, an acclimation to the new and uncomfortable surroundings. For the first two weeks I was, truthfully, ridden with anxiety, but met these feelings with an open mind. I tried to prioritize doing things that would make me feel more at ease, such as taking walks without a predetermined destination to map out the city. Before I knew it, I became attached to the city and to its people. I became a local at a coffee shop where the baristas knew my order. I was learning the language and being able to communicate at restaurants. The thought of leaving was crushing, and I knew I would feel that a part of me was missing. None of these experiences, no matter how temporary, would have been possible without the help of this scholarship. Thank you again for your support, I could not have done this without you!