Caterina Castellano '17, Italian Studies and Economics
Why did you decide to become an Italian major?
I come from an Italian family and even though I had always heard Italian spoken since I was very young, I had never studied it formally and was hesitant to speak it as a result. Whenever my parents or one of my relatives would speak to me in Italian, I would often answer in English. Since Italian was never offered as a foreign language in my primary and secondary schools, studying Italian at Wellesley gave me the opportunity to build my confidence in speaking Italian.
How did it shape your time at Wellesley?
The Department of Italian Studies was like a second home for me during my time at Wellesley. Due to my involvement in the Italian Society as a member and then as President, I was often there for fun-filled events and movie nights. Each of the Italian Studies professors made my experience at Wellesley very special by creating an
encouraging and supportive environment in which to learn. I also spent the fall semester of my junior year studying abroad at the University of Bologna through the ECCO program. Not only did I build my confidence in conversing in Italian and gain a newfound appreciation for the culture, but it was during that time that I made some of my most lasting friendships.
How has it influenced your life after Wellesley?
My knowledge of Italian has been invaluable as I embarked on my professional career at State Street Corporation in Boston. During my first week, I was able to put my language skills to the test when my manager introduced me to one of the original founders of our offices in Milan. Due to my Italian skills, I was able to strike up a conversation and form a lasting connection even as a new employee. Most recently, I was able to assist with the translation of a corporate-wide training of our fraud risk management program into Italian. In my current position as a Business Analyst working heavily with developers, my Italian skills have helped me indirectly. Coming into this role, I had very little knowledge of the technology sector. However, just like learning a new language, I quickly acquired the technical terminology and concepts that would make me successful. Most importantly, as I am working for a global company with three offices in Italy, I am looking forward to using my Italian to hopefully work abroad in the future. With a major in Italian, the possibilities are endless!