The moment the plane took off, it finally hit me that I was leaving Florence. Leaving the cobblestone streets filled with art and music, leaving the museums where I would sit and sketch the sculptures. Leaving all of my amazing professors and classes, and the delicious food. Most of all, I was leaving behind the community I had become a part of. Although most of my friends were going back to Pitt as well, I couldn’t help but be sad because we would never be in the same place again.
The experience of studying abroad in Florence has changed my life in so many ways. Not only have I grown as an individual, personally and professionally, but I have also made friends who have helped in this process. Traveling around Europe and to Northern Africa together has made my peers and me extremely resilient. I feel that we are now able to better adapt to different situations and solve problems.
I know that these skills will not only help me succeed in my academics at Pitt, but also in my career in medicine. I am confident that I will be a better Physician Assistant because I will be able to work more as a team member to solve issues. Studying abroad has changed my perspective to understand how important experiences like these are for my future career. I now know that it is not all about academics to be successful in life. Although that is a large part, experiences like studying abroad are valuable in making individuals more resilient and adaptable.
My advice for a future Frederick’s Honors College student who is considering this program would be to do anything you can to make it happen. I would tell them to truly commit themselves to the process by branching out, meeting new people, taking different classes, and traveling to different places. I would emphasize how impactful this has been to me and how much it will help me in my future career.
In the end, I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to study abroad for a whole semester. I would not have traded this experience for the world because of how much it has helped me grow as an individual. A piece of Florence and the people I met along the way will always have a special place in my heart ♥️
