It’s week 5 of classes, and I’m loving them! I am taking 4 classes will I am here. The classes I am taking are: International Finance, Beginner Figurative Sculpting, Italian 101, and Cross Cultural Psychology. I’m a finance & business analytics major, and I am only taking one class that relates to my major (International Finance). I am very happy with the classes that I am taking, and I feel like I have already learned a lot. I am not doing an internship while I am abroad, so I have time to focus on my classes and truly experience the city.

So far, my classes have been very engaging. Two skills that I think has been necessary for all of the classes that I am taking are perseverance and commitment. Many of these classes have been completely new to me, which means that I have had to start from scratch or near scratch for these areas. Perseverance has been key because there is a lot of struggle before eventually succeeding. Whether it’s in sculpting, where I have to take apart my sculpture multiple times before eventually figuring out the correct technique or in Italian, where I mess up pronunciation multiple times before eventually learning the correct way, perseverance has been essential to continue learning. Commitment has also played a role, as success in these courses requires consistent practice, active participation, and a willingness to engage with unfamiliar ideas.

The main thing that I have noticed about the dynamics of the classes that I am taking is that collaboration and teamwork is highly emphasized. In my Italian 101 class, we always split up into groups and practice with each other. This helps us to learn more about each other while simultaneously learning more about the topic. I have learned that the best way to learn, especially with language, is to learn together. hearing different accents, making mistakes together, and learning from one another. This collaborative environment has extended to my other classes as well, where discussions and group activities play a central role in deepening our understanding of course material. 

Overall, this study abroad experience has been both academically enriching and very personally fulfilling. While my coursework has pushed me out of my comfort zone, it has also given me the opportunity to embrace different perspectives and build meaningful connections with my classmates from all over the place. I’m looking forward to the rest of the semester and all the opportunities it will bring!