Looking back at the last four months, I cannot express how grateful I am to have had this opportunity. This unique experience to immerse myself in a foreign culture has allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and find comfort in the uncomfortable. I am now able to say that Florence feels like home to me, and it will be very hard to cope with leaving such a special place that has meant so much to me.
Throughout this experience, I’ve noticed significant growth in myself personally, academically, and professionally. On a personal level, I’ve really started to appreciate the slower, more present lifestyle I’ve adapted to while being here. Back at home, everything often feels rushed, like you’re constantly moving from one task to the next without much time to pause. Here, I’ve found myself more able to slow down, live in the moment, and genuinely take in my surroundings. This experience has also helped me realize that the world is so much bigger than my day to day worries, which has given me a lot more perspective and gratitude.
Academically, I have grown in the way I approach concepts that I learn in class. In my International Finance class especially, I have been able to gain a much more global perspective and better understand how financial systems operate across different countries. Being abroad has made it easier to connect classroom lessons to real-world events and situations happening around me, which has helped me engage more deeply with the material.
In a professional sense, I have grown in my confidence and ability to communicate with people of different perspectives and backgrounds. Traveling to new countries on most weekends has expanded my knowledge of culture norms. I have learned to quickly adapt to the different gestures, languages, and communication styles, and to remain patient and open-minded when navigating unfamiliar situations.
Overall, I’ve developed more independence, adaptability, problem-solving, and resilience since living in Florence for the past four months. Living more spontaneously week to week has taught me that things won’t always go as planned, but how you respond to those challenges is what truly defines you. I’ve learned to stay calm, think quickly, and trust myself in unfamiliar situations rather than getting overwhelmed. Moving forward, I know these skills will continue to help me not only at Pitt Business, but also in my future career when I’m faced with new and unexpected challenges.
