Global Outlook - My Study Abroad Path 600+ words of 4 months in Rome in Madrid changed my life

I did not have the traditional first semester of college. I was admitted to University of Miami for spring semester of 2021. It left me confused with what I should do during the fall. I originally considered doing a semester at a community college just to get ahead on credits. However, a special opportunity came across my instagram page. It was an ad for a study abroad program for UM students taking place in Rome, Italy during the fall. I was apprehensive at first a bit scared of moving to a new place for four months away from my family. However, after considering my options and growing to courage to do something spontaneous, I decided to go on this adventure.

I packed up two giant suit cases and before I knew it I was flying to Rome. Luckily, I had my mom and dad by my side to drop me off and help me move into my apartment. I arrived at the airport wearing a UM hat hoping I would attract my classmates, but I did not find anyone because I arrived a couple hours later than everyone else. I walked into my 3 bed, 2 bath apartment in the gorgeous neighborhood of Trastevere to meet my roommates. I was greeted by Sophie first who staying in the room across from me with our other roommate Kathryn, little did I know she would be one of my best friends still four years later. My personal roommate who I shared a room with is also one of my best friends still to this day and she saved the biggest room for us since she got to the apartment first. The first night, my 5 room mates and I, went out on the town to explore. We ended up at this bar called the Drunken Ship where we would go every week of the program. We met up with the rest of the UM students in the program which was 60 of us, 30 girls and 30 guys.

We had the best nights out. Every Thursday at the Drunken Ship, we met some many people from so many different university such as Tulane and College of Charleston. We also met so many local Italians helping me become less scared to talk to new people starting out in college and we had so many greater memories with locals. I actually also met my boyfriend at this bar and we are still together. One night we explored to outside of the Vatican and went to the Colosseum at 5 in the morning to get the best pictures. We did weekend trips such as to the Amafi Coast, Tuscany, Florence, and went to new places such as London and Paris. It was some of the best four months of my life, so freeing, so memorable. I have countless stories to tell that I will never forget.

In terms of academics, I went to American University of Rome. All of the courses were in english ranging from American professors to international ones. We had Fridays off to travel and the school was a 20 minute walk that was somewhat a hike up a hill with a beautiful view of the city. I took three courses which was a light load but it was worth it in the end. I took english 105 with an American professor who was great I really loved his class. I also took a course called Art of Rome with another American professor where we sketched drawings in churches and famous sites all over Rome. This was for sure my favorite course, It was only once a week we would meet up at a new spot every week where we would sketch of 3 hours. I made one of my best friends Julia in this class and we got to explore all of Rome together. I also took an anthropology class with a wonderful Italian professor.

Although starting my first semester of college on the other side of the world is shocking to some, it sent me up for success for the remainder of college. I already had a solid group of amazing friends heading into UM which have stuck with me all the way to my senior year, I had the confidence to talk to new people and put myself out there, I had great professors that prepared me for college class format, and loads of stories and experiences to share.

I loved studying abroad so much that after spending all of sophomore and junior year in Miami, I wanted to go abroad again. This time, I wanted to go to Spain, as I had been spending a lot of my breaks visiting the country to see my boyfriend and travel around with my study abroad friends. My heart was set on Madrid. I knew the city well and I spoke the language so I felt more ready than every. I applied to a fall semester 2024 program at IE University a top business school in Europe. After I was accepted, I found an apartment, a roommate, and found myself counting down the days till I go.

I arrived in Madrid eager to start school. IE was an amazing modern school with people from all over the world. I took 6 classes this time as I felt more comfortable taking a heavier load after going abroad before. I took digital marketing which was a challenging, but interesting class with a retired french business man as a professor. Then I took international business with another french professor and creative brand management with an American professor, and psychology of drugs. My two favorite classes were Psychology of cognition and the art of selling. The psychology of cognition was taught by an amazing and thoughtful professor who was American who I learned so much from. The art of selling was taught by a German professor and it was not a traditional class with it being a lot more about learning about ourselves and building confidence than actually selling. In Madrid, I traveled all over Europe, visited friends and my boyfriend, and made many new friends as well.

Overall, I think studying abroad is something everyone should do at least once in college. Not only do you get to live in a new place and make amazing friends, but you learn so much about yourself. It is an experience that will make you the best version of yourself. I think it