I’ve just arrived for my study abroad program at Istituto Lorenzo de Medici in Florence, Italy. It still feels surreal to be here, standing in the heart of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Over the next few months, I’ll be diving into a variety of courses in graphic design, web design, filmmaking, Italian language, and a course on Historical Women Artists (which I am most excited for).
Studying abroad has been my dream for as long as I can remember. I’ve always wanted to step out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in a new culture. To be honest, I’d be lying if I didn’t say a large part of my decision to attend UIUC wasn’t because of this very program. I had known from the moment I applied that I was going to study abroad, and I even started researching the best programs before I was officially a committed student. My freshman year (2021), I attended a study abroad fair and met with people who had experienced this program firsthand. Listening to their stories about living in Florence and studying at the Istituto Lorenzo de Medici was enough to solidify my decision. I knew I had to make this dream a reality.
But as much as I was certain about wanting to go abroad, the months leading up to this trip weren’t without their doubts. There were moments when my excitement was clouded by fear and uncertainty. What if I don’t like it? What if I struggle with the coursework? What if I don’t make friends? The thought of living in a foreign country for an extended period felt daunting. I had only traveled internationally once before, and now here I was, about to step into a completely new world, alone. I would be attending this program by myself, I didn’t even know anyone from my university that would be attending. That sense of loneliness was one of the biggest fears I had to overcome.
The other thing that weighed heavily on my mind was being away from home for four whole months. My university is only about three hours away from my hometown, so it’s easy for me to visit whenever I need a break or some comfort from my family. But this was different. I was about to be thousands of miles away in a completely different time zone, and there was no hopping on a quick drive home or sometimes even a quick phone call if I missed my family or felt homesick. I had to accept that I’d be living in this new country for an extended period, whether I liked it or not. I won’t lie, the thought of being disconnected from everything I knew and loved was intimidating.
And then, there were my living arrangements. This was probably one of the biggest sources of anxiety leading up to the trip. I had no idea where I would be living or who I’d be living with. All I knew was that my program was organized, but the specifics of my accommodations hadn’t been finalized. I arrived in Florence without any knowledge of where I would be staying, who my roommates would be, or even how I would get there. All I could do was trust that it would all work out (Spoiler—it did! I ended up living directly next to the Duomo with amazing roommates). But in those moments of uncertainty, I couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed. The lack of control over such a fundamental part of my experience made everything feel that much more uncertain.
As the days passed, though, I realized that the fear I was feeling was natural. It’s part of any big adventure. Fear often appears when we’re on the brink of growth, and I knew that if I could push through these doubts, I would be giving myself the chance to embrace something life-changing. There was no way I would let fear stand in the way of this incredible opportunity.
And so, here I am. My first impression of Florence is nothing short of amazing, it’s gorgeous! As I took a quick walk through the city center, I couldn’t help but smile to myself. I’m actually here. The feeling of disbelief mixed with gratitude is overwhelming. This is a place I’ve only seen in pictures, and now it’s my reality.
Despite the nerves I felt before arriving, the excitement is finally taking over. I am so grateful for this opportunity to live, learn, and grow in Florence. I’m ready to take on the challenges ahead, knowing that each step I take here will help me build resilience, broaden my perspective, and deepen my understanding of the world.
I’ll be pushing myself to overcome new challenges, whether that’s navigating a foreign language, tackling coursework, or simply making new connections. And even when those fears and doubts creep in, I’ll remind myself that they are a natural part of the process. The growth comes from pushing through them.
This experience is going to be transformative in ways I can’t even fully anticipate yet. I’m ready to step outside my comfort zone, embrace the unknown, and see where this journey takes me.
I am so excited for what is to come!
