Why did you decide to become an Italian major? How did it shape your time at Wellesley?
When I arrived at Wellesley in the fall of 2006 I knew that I would take an Italian class but what I couldn’t have imagined was how central a role Italian would play in my Wellesley experience and beyond. I’d taken Italian since seventh grade, as a way to stay connected to my family’s southern Italian heritage, and I fell in love with the language and the country. For some reason I hadn’t considered Italian as a major though that all changed when I met the professors, the majors and our student teacher during my first semester. I was floored by their passion for the language, learning and life, and I was hooked. I discovered incredible authors and poets I didn’t know existed, I pushed my limits until I could read, write and speak in Italian and I had a life-changing study abroad experience in a city I didn’t know existed until I came to Wellesley. The Department is a family, and my family pushed, challenged, supported and believed in me every step of the way at Wellesley, and they continue to do so today.
How has it influenced your life after Wellesley?
I’ve been working at a financial institution in Boston since graduation – State Street Global Markets – and while my second major, Economics, is clearly important for this role, I constantly site my Italian major as a key to my success. In financial services, you won’t start your first job knowing everything you need to know, but you can differentiate yourself through your experiences and how you approach and solve problems. In my trading and strategy/consulting roles, my Italian major has given me the confidence to say that I have a unique way of thinking and approaching problems, and that I’m dedicated, determined, attentive to detail and adaptable. In addition to these important skills you’ll also become an amateur food and wine expert, another skill that’s always in demand!