As my semester here in Florence comes to an end I’ve been reflecting on my experiences here. I always knew I wanted to study abroad, but I had no idea how much growth I would actually get out of it. I am extremely grateful to my scholarship donors for helping give me the opportunity to come abroad to experience another culture and environment.

I have seen a ton of growth in myself in my academics and personal life. This opportunity pushed me to experience a class schedule unlike what I was familiar with at Pitt. My classes were focused on learning to think about topics in a global aspect and immersing us in the Italian culture. Living through different topics of culture while learning about them gave me first hand insights that I wouldn’t normally get from an average lecture class at home.

My personal growth is probably where I have seen the most change. This study abroad experience has broken me out of my shell in many ways. Going through this experience alone at first helped me learn to rely on myself and become a more outgoing social person in order to meet people and start to feel comfortable calling Florence my home. I learned how to adapt and navigate my way through tough life situations I came across in my traveling and experiences. I am very thankful for the newfound independence and confidence studying abroad has given me.

As far as my professional growth, this experience has made me realize I would love to find a career that continues to allow me to work with other cultures and potentially travel. I learned how important cultural awareness and flexibility is in any work place. I think my most useful class was my International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior, because we spent a lot of time role playing with other students on how to overcome cultural conflicts in the work place. The skills I have learned from all my classes and my time here will be extremely useful as I pursue internships and my career.

I am sad to be leaving here so soon, because I never expected to feel so at home and make such meaningful connections in under four months. I am proud of myself for going through challenges that allowed me to feel this way about Florence. This all would not have been possible without the support from my donors. When I come back home I am excited to see how my new skills and experiences will be put to use in my last semesters of college. Ciao for now!