Best decision I have ever made Past Review

Studying abroad at ISI Florence was one of the most amazing and fulfilling experiences of my life. Living in Italy for four months was more than just learning in a foreign country. It gave me so much knowledge and confidence that I now feel the sky is the limit. When I think back to when I was considering studying abroad in Florence, I can almost laugh at myself wondering if it would be worth it or if I could handle being away in a foreign country for so long. As soon as I stepped foot in Florence, I knew my decision was the best I had ever made. It was my home, and I was no longer afraid. It’s amazing to think that it was real and I was given the opportunities I had because I realize that very few people have the opportunity to study abroad. I am eternally grateful for the time I spent studying abroad. I learned to appreciate where I was, but more importantly where I came from. Studying abroad teaches you that there is not always one way of doing something, but there are many ways. This is one of the things that I realized while being immersed in a culture that was different from my own. It made me appreciate things about other cultures as well as my own. I truly appreciated the food, and more relaxed way of life that comes with Italian culture. Learning the language was another thing that gave me more passion and excitement during my time there. I have always enjoyed learning new languages, but it’s so much more fulfilling when it’s all around you every time you step out of your apartment. I also learned that stepping outside of your comfort zone can be one of the scariest, but most rewarding things you can do for yourself. At times I got lost, or looked like a complete tourist. I had to figure out many things I had never done before like navigating cities I had never been in. In fact, I not only had to opportunity to visit cities within Italy, but I was also able to travel to five other countries including Spain, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. All of these places were exciting and unique, and each of them gave me a taste of another culture. Some of these opportunities were encouraged and directed by my school which was extremely helpful and comforting. Since I am in interior architecture major, Florence was overflowing with opportunities to learn that were relevant to my major. Every day I was surrounded by buildings that I may have only ever came across in a textbook or on the internet. This truly enriched my learning experience because it is one thing to learn by hearing or reading, but to experience something first hand is like nothing else in the world. The relationships I made in Florence will stay with me forever, and knowing that I have made these connections across the globe I realize that it will only benefit my future career in architecture. I have nothing but good things to say about all the people who helped me during my time abroad, whether it was school related or not. My professors, staff, and administrators were always there to help with any questions I might have had. I also felt they were very approachable and really made me feel welcome. I also had the opportunity to meet amazing professors, and was part of an architecture workshop with Dutch students from TU Delft and Italian students from the University of Florence. This experience was challenging, and also fulfilling. It gave me another perspective of how architecture schools from two other countries tackle a project, and was an amazing teamwork and communication exercise. These are very important skills to have as an architect or any professional. If I could take everything I learned while studying abroad and sum it up into one fraise, it would be: believe you can achieve. Anything is possible, even living in a foreign country for four months. If I imagine all the things I learned simply from stepping out of my comfort zone literally and figuratively, then I can only imagine what other possibilities await me in the future. There is always more and more to learn and discover, and this experience taught me to never stop learning and improving myself.