As I get ready to leave Florence and travel back to my life at home, I am feeling incredibly fulfilled. The diverse experiences I’ve had over the last four months have given me a new excitement for life and all the possibilities that my future holds. From traveling to different countries, living in Florence, and visiting small Italian towns, I’ve gotten a glimpse into the many ways people live across the world. There is so much beauty in the little differences, whether it’s how people greet each other, how meals are shared, or how daily life is approached. These nuances made me more aware of how vast and vibrant the world truly is. I’ve realized that there’s so much to see, so many people to meet, and so much to learn, and I find myself wanting to do it all. While I know I can’t experience everything, I now carry a strong desire to live a life driven by curiosity. I want to keep searching for unique experiences, opening myself up to perspectives different from my own, and building genuine connections with others along the way.
Another value I have come to develop in Florence, and one that I’m taking with me back to the States, is the importance of not wasting time. At the beginning of my program, four months felt like an eternity. I thought I had all the time in the world to explore every corner of the city, travel wherever I wanted, and try every dish on my list. But time passed faster than I could’ve imagined. The more it slipped away, the more I found myself wishing I had even just a few more weeks. My notes app is still full of places I want to visit, and just last week, I finally visited some of the iconic landmarks in Florence that I had postponed over and over. This taught me a powerful lesson: time doesn’t wait, and if you’re not intentional with how you spend it, it will pass by before you even realize. This realization now pushes me to treat each day like a gift; something to be experienced and appreciated. At the same time, I’ve always been someone who values being present and slowing down to enjoy the moment. Balancing these two ideologies, seizing the day while also being grounded in the present, has been one of my biggest personal challenges and sources of growth while abroad. But I’ve learned that both can coexist, and that’s a balance I’ll continue striving for.
In my remaining time at Pitt Business, and when I think about my future career, one word keeps coming to mind: impact. The world is incredibly diverse, and creating meaningful impact outside of one’s immediate circle isn’t easy. My time in Florence made me deeply aware of how important it is to understand others culturally, socially, and emotionally, before trying to make a difference. Whether it was navigating language barriers, learning how local businesses operate, or observing different approaches to sustainability and community building, I saw firsthand how complex and interconnected the world really is. To be truly impactful in my work, I need to continue thinking beyond myself. I need to keep learning, listening, and growing. I plan to bring this mindset back into my classrooms, group projects, internships, and eventually into the professional spaces I’ll enter after graduation. I want to be someone who contributes thoughtfully and globally, not just locally.
Reflecting on this experience, I feel immense gratitude. Studying abroad in Florence was more than just an academic opportunity – it was a chance to see the world, to see myself in a new light, and to start asking bigger questions about the kind of life I want to live and the kind of professional I want to become. I return home with a deeper sense of purpose, a wider lens through which I view the world, and a renewed drive to make the most of every opportunity. To my scholarship donor: thank you. This experience changed my life in ways that are hard to fully put into words, but I hope this reflection gives you a glimpse into just how meaningful it was. Because of your support, I didn’t just study abroad, I grew, I explored, and I came back with a heart full of memories and a mind ready for what’s next.
