Why did you decide to become an Italian major?
At first, I chose Italian solely because I wanted something different enough from High School Spanish, but something interesting enough to get me through two years of required language. Languages had long been an academic weakness of mine, and fear and frustration had always accompanied me to my daily Spanish lessons. Italian was something very different though, quickly evolving from a mere "requirement" to a passion. Junior year, I finally decided to become an Italian major--I wanted to continue pursuing fluency, but also indulging in the richness of Italian culture.
How did it shape your time at Wellesley?
The frustrations did not disappear--as any academic pursuit, it was hard! Nevertheless, I enjoyed it. The satisfaction I felt when I could get through an article, having only to look up a few words, or after finishing an extensive research paper, was extremely fulfilling. I appreciated the quality of education I received as well, reading Italian literature and poetry, studying Italy's renowned cinema works, and learning the social, economic, and political history of the country. I also studied abroad during the summers in Italy, which developed my skills in the language. I fell in love with the country even more. The little town in which I studied, Urbania in the Marche Region, I now consider to be a second home, and have made life-long connections there.
How has it influenced your life after Wellesley?
My passion for Italian studies has influenced me already in my first year after graduating from Wellesley. I am currently completing an MA degree in Terrorism, Security, and Society at King's College London. I have been able to bridge my interests in Terrorism and Italian while studying Left-wing terrorism in Italy during the 1960s. My dissertation concerns the relationship between terrorist groups and organized criminal syndicates; the Italian Mafia will have to be one of my research topics. I have also taken an historical interest of efforts to counter criminal organizations--in particular Italy's anti-Mafiosi efforts n the 1960s and 1970s and how lessons can be drawn and applied to current counter-terrorism measures. Italian has also enriched my life socially here in London. The metropolis has a large population of Italians. The Italians I have met and befriended here simply by visiting coffee bars and family owned restaurants, and by conversing with the Italians in my course, have allowed me to actually "live" in London, and not merely "stay" as a student here. I've explored the city with my Italian friends, dined with them, and have learned important traditions i.e. cooking la pasta. For the future, I hope to work for the government, a security consultancy firm, or conduct research in terrorism or political violence. A second language in any of these areas is invaluable.