Major: Psychology
Minor: Human Development and Family Studies
Hometown: Harrisburg PA

How did you learn about this opportunity?

I learned about this enrichment experience online. I was looking at several study abroad programs and this one appealed to me because it was during the summer and applied specifically to my minor.

Tell us a little bit about your experience.

My experience in Italy was incredible. I learned so much and made great memories. I took 3 classes while there and I loved all of them. My favorite of the three was my Italian Childhood class where we got to go into Italian kindergartens and observe the children and how they are taught for 3 days. We got to interact with the children and learn about how the schools in Italy are run. As a class, we went on a lot of field trips to places that I would not have been to otherwise. These field trips taught me so much more about Italian culture and what daily life is like for someone who lives in Italy. I also had the opportunity to travel somewhere new almost every weekend I was there so it was amazing to be able to see so much of Italy and even other countries. I had the most incredible experience that I will always remember.

I learned about Italian culture and family life in a way that you can only really learn about by experiencing it.

How did this experience impact you academically?

Studying abroad impacted me academically because I had the opportunity to take classes I would not have been able to take if I stayed in America. I learned about Italian culture and family life in a way that you can only really learn about by experiencing it. Being exposed to a new culture has opened my mind to new things and ideas that I would not know if I hadn't lived there for a short time. It also gave me the opportunity to complete my minor. I received 9 credits while I was abroad and they all applied to minor, which was really exciting because most of the time when students go abroad they take gen ed classes, so to be able to complete my minor in such a different way was great.

What are your career goals and plans?  How did this experience impact them?

After I finish my undergraduate studies I plan to attend graduate school and eventually become a counselor. This experience made me even more excited to become a counselor because it showed me just how different everyone is from me and I can learn so much from everyone I come into contact with. It also made me think about working with kids and families. There is a growing need for all types of counselors and working with the kids in kindergarten inspired me to want to help children.

Would you recommend this experience to other Liberal Arts students?

I would definitely recommend this experience to other Liberal Arts students. Studying abroad is an opportunity to expand your knowledge of the world and experience other cultures firsthand instead of just reading about them in a textbook. It changed so much about the way I view the world and made me a more well-rounded person. And the enrichment funds I received played a huge part in making my experience what it was. I loved every second of my time in Italy and would encourage everyone to go abroad if they are able.