Hello! My name is Nick Harris, and I am a rising senior at Pitt, where I am studying Applied Mathematics. After graduating in Spring 2027, I plan to gain more professional experience and then pursue a master’s degree in quantitative economics.
As I have never been out of the country before, I wanted to select a location that would allow me to connect with my heritage while exploring a variety of historically significant locations. Florence immediately stood out to me, as it has a rich, centuries-long history. Also, I am Italian, so this experience would allow me to develop a deeper connection with my cultural heritage through an immersive experience of learning the language and adjusting to cultural differences.
Exploring a new environment will guide me in my goal of establishing independence and stepping out of my comfort zone. I have lived in Pittsburgh my entire life, guided by family and friends. As I plan to live away from home after graduation, I will use this experience to adjust to a completely new way of life with little familiar assistance. Meeting new people, acquiring new customs, and building a new routine will shape the transition into this new stage of my life. Also, as I am working towards a minor in French, I hope to establish a foundation in Italian, which will allow me to diversify my language portfolio and have more confidence when visiting Europe in the future.
Prior to the start of my four-week program, my family decided to join me in taking a six-day trip to Italy! We spent the first three days of our trip in Rome, exploring its incredibly rich history. We visited many popular spots, such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Sistine Chapel. Our Airbnb was located in a neighborhood known as Trastevere, which we fell in love with because of its welcoming atmosphere and magnificent food.
We spent the last three days of our trip in Florence. As I got acclimated to the city that I would call home for the next four weeks, we did lots of exploring and even a pasta-making class!
