Why did you decide to become an Italian major?
I had my first study abroad experience in Barcelona during high school. It not only improved my Spanish, but was a highly formative experience for a 15-year-old. When I started learning Italian, I knew I wanted to do the same, so I immediately decided to major in Italian Studies. Having already learned one romance language, the framework of the curriculum was similar enough, but it wasn't until I studied at a higher level at Wellesley that I began speaking more naturally and at ease.
How did it shape your time at Wellesley?
While there are countless benefits from my Italian major, I'll summarize the top three highlights (two are listed below, the last one is in the next answer):
1. Studying abroad in Bologna: This experience was not only life-changing from a language development perspective, but also critical to my understanding views of American abroad, and what it's like to be a foreigner. It challenged me in ways that I could never have imagined, and helped me to mature as an individual and as a student. Thanks to the ECCO study abroad program, some of my most cherished Wellesley memories didn't happen on campus - they happened at Ghigi, a "studentato" where I watched countless soccer matches, danced at parties until 5 AM, and lived with 11 roommates for 5 months of my young adult life. They happened below the famous due torri and outside of Bombo Crepe, the best mid-afternoon (or late night) sweet fix just next door to the ECCO office. They happened in Modena, where I ate the best lasagna of my life, and in Rita's kitchen, where the whole group learned to cook parmigiana and make tiramisu. All of these memories formed who I grew into by the end of my Wellesley education and have stayed with me ever since.
2. Fostering a lasting relationship with my thesis advisor: Learning to communicate in Italian, let alone writing a thesis in the language, would not have been possible without Professor Ward, my thesis advisor and unofficial life coach throughout my college career. He was a fierce advocate of mine in countless recommendation letters, and helped me through tough decisions (professional and personal) every time they arose. Over my four years at Wellesley, he guided me through countless discussions on Italian history, film, and literature, reviewed hundreds of pages of research and edited dozens of thesis drafts. I felt truly blessed to have been so supported from the beginning through the finish line.
How has it influenced your life after Wellesley?
I live in London now, where I work for a global financial services firm. I author market playbooks and quarterly bulletins covering the Latin American and European asset management industries, including Italy. As such, I leverage my language skills frequently to conduct research on opportunities in the Italian market, and when our team travels to Milan for client meetings. It's so rewarding to use a skill that is associated with so many positive memories, all the while continuing to learn more and expanding my vocabulary.
3. Creating lasting friendships: Not only are my friends from abroad some of my dearest to this day (5+ years later), one of the Italian TAs who visited Wellesley during my junior fall is one of my best friends. When I first moved to London, an acquaintance from a few Italian classes who already lived here welcomed me to her group of friends with open arms. The tight-knit nature of the Italian Studies department allowed me to grow as an individual alongside so many supportive people while at Wellesley, but that close community has proven just as strong even thousands of miles from campus.