Our Featured Alumni

Short bio:
Hi! My name is Sam, and I am from Long Island, NY. I am a junior at Penn State University majoring in Marketing and minoring in International Business. After graduation, I plan to work in NYC within the marketing/advertising industry. I have absolutely loved my time in Florence, and would be more than happy to answer any questions about studying abroad!!

Most memorable experience:
There have been so many amazing experiences for me while being abroad, but I would say my most memorable would be developing a relationship with a local cafe in town. I love being able to talk to the locals that I see every day and getting to learn about them and their experiences. I always look forward to getting my coffee in the morning and speaking with Rafaela about weekends or what we’re doing that day. Becoming more personable with the workers at my local cafe has made me feel much more connected to Florence and brought about a sense of comfort and familiarity.

Advice for future students:
My advice for future students would be to turn off your phone and enjoy the scenery. Whether you’re walking to class or taking a train to the airport that you’ve been on a million times, there’s always something new to look at. Look out the window and appreciate the incredible views because you may never see them again. Studying abroad is such an amazing experience, and you don’t want to waste your limited time here focused on your phone. 

Short Bio: 
Ciao! My name is Bri, and I’m a junior at UConn, currently studying abroad in Florence with ISI Florence. I study Economics and English, and I love my classes at ISI. This past semester, I took Beginning Oil Painting, Travel Writing, Italian, and Social Media, Social Food. Living and studying in Florence has been an amazing experience, and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have! 

Most memorable experience: 
The most memorable experience I had in Florence was watching the sunset over Florence with my roommates at Piazzale Michelangelo. I would highly recommend visiting this spot because of the breathtaking view of the whole city. The walk up to Piazzale Michaelangelo was a bit of a hike from our apartment, but well worth it. On our walk, we stumbled into what would become our favorite gelateria, which we would visit countless times over the course of the semester. Being able to walk around the city and find cool places with the friends I’ve made through studying abroad has been the highlight. 

Advice for future students: 
My advice for future students is to go easy on yourself while you are studying abroad. There can be a lot of expectations to have the best time of your life, to travel every weekend, and to make a ton of friends. It takes time to adjust to living in a new place. It’s important to do so without putting too much pressure on yourself, especially when everything is up in the air. Though it can be overwhelming and stressful to travel and meet new people, I’d advise you not to worry if these things don’t immediately fall into place. Everything will work itself out, but it might take time. Three months into studying abroad, I can say it has been the best experience. However, it’s important to remember that there will be challenges to overcome that happen when moving to a new country, especially in the beginning. 

 Bio: 
Hi! My name is Anthony, and I’m a junior majoring in finance with a minor in business law at Penn State. I am originally from Pittsburgh, PA, but with a lot of consideration, I made the amazing decision to spend 4 months of my life in Florence! After graduation, I hope to work in a bank or explore the opportunity of getting a master’s degree or a law degree. Please feel free to reach out with any questions concerning any part of my experience abroad! 

Most memorable experience: 
Besides my day-to-day life immersed in Italian culture in Florence, my most memorable experience was my trip to Interlaken, Switzerland, with my group of friends. Being a more outdoorsy person than a sightseeing person, I knew this trip was going to be one of my favorites. Switzerland was one of the first trips we took in the semester, and we still talk about it to this day. The trip involved constantly moving around and doing everything that was possible during the weekend that we were there. Friday started with watching the sunrise over one of the lakes, and then we immediately went skiing in the Swiss Alps in Grindelwald, as we constantly stuffed our faces with traditional Swiss foods and drinks. Saturday was more of the same, and it involved skydiving over the Swiss Alps, a 5-mile hike up a mountain, night sledding down one of the mountains with a fondue dinner immediately after, and randomly running into one of my best friends from school. The trip finished with a cold plunge in one of the lakes at sunrise on Sunday morning before we made the trip home. Traveling whenever possible was a huge part of my experience, but I will never forget this weekend in Switzerland. 

Advice for future students: 
Do it if you’re considering studying abroad in Florence. As a student, it is truly one of the most fulfilling experiences you can have. Even the walk to class feels exceptional because of the city’s amazing mix of art, history, and natural beauty. More importantly, though, Florence teaches you to be self-reliant, receptive, and in the moment. You begin to value the small things, such as getting a coffee at your favorite café or discovering a piazza crowded with locals enjoying live music. Saying “yes” more often is my biggest piece of advice. The best memories are created when you let yourself get a bit lost; try the new dishes, go on weekend trips, and speak the Italian you’re afraid of. Studying abroad isn’t just about where you go; it’s about who you become while you’re there. 

Hi! My name is Mia, I’m from Arlington, Virginia, and I am a third-year student at the University of Virginia majoring in Global Development Studies with a minor in Data Science. I would love to be able to spend more time abroad after graduating.

My Favorite Moment in Florence
My favorite moments in Florence are all the walks up Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset with my friends, sitting on the bridge along the Arno, and listening to all the live music performances happening in piazzas and on the streets.

Advice for Future Students
My advice to someone studying abroad in Florence is that it is your own personal experience, do the things you enjoy and are excited about. I think it can be easy to get caught up in visiting the same cities and checking off the same experiences as other study abroad students. That doesn’t mean these experiences aren’t great and that you won’t enjoy them, but focus on following what is exciting to you. You only have so much time in the semester, so focus on what genuinely interests you and what you enjoy, and when you look back, you’ll know you made the most of your experience.

Ciao! My name is Mariana Agadis, I am a sophomore at Penn State, majoring in Supply Chain and minoring in Global Studies. Outside of school, I love staying active, reading, writing, and trying new recipes. I chose Florence because of my Italian heritage and have LOVED my experience here. Please feel free to contact me with any questions on applying, packing, classes, budgeting, traveling, and anything else. I would love to help out!!

My favorite experience abroad was just enjoying Florence. You will be so excited to travel on the weekends, you might forget to enjoy the city you are in. I loved waking up early and walking around Florence as the sun rose and before all the tourists were out. I encourage you to get gelato, read, or chat with friends in the many squares of the city. It is a great way to observe Italian culture and create lasting memories.

My best piece of advice is to journal everything. If you have any free time, on the plane, train, or in cafes during the week, you MUST make time to journal. It is so rewarding to be able to look back and remember what you did and where you went every day while studying abroad. In this journal, I would also encourage you to journal how you are feeling and make some goals for your semester. Doing this will allow you to reflect on your once-in-a-lifetime experience in the best way. Additionally, I would recommend you choose classes that will interest you. My classes in Art History, Food and Culture, and Travel Writing made my experience here and allowed me to learn so much.

Hey guys! My name is Joelle, and I am a 3^rd year student studying economics at UVA. While I currently live in Virginia, I spent the majority of my childhood moving every 2-3 years. From Puerto Rico to Washington State, I became accustomed to exploring new places from a young age. Having always cherished these experiences, the opportunity to study abroad was extremely appealing. Considering my Italian roots, accompanied by a love for pasta and gelato, Florence felt like a great fit!

Favorite Moment in Florence:
While there are many moments in Florence I will always treasure, some of my favorites have been my long walks behind the San Niccolò neighborhood, away from the city center. I’m incredibly lucky to live just steps below Piazzale Michelangelo, and I’ve loved exploring the quieter areas beyond it.  Since the plaza itself can get very crowded, I love enjoying the views from the neighborhoods and walkways a little further past it. Finding a quiet bench where I can read, listen to music, call my family, and soak in the skyline of Florence has been very grounding and restorative during my time in Florence.

Advice to Future Students:
Studying abroad will undoubtedly be one of the most rewarding yet hardest experiences of your life. My biggest piece of advice is to take the process at your own pace and avoid comparing your journey to others. Some students may be more accustomed to traveling, others more extroverted, some less homesick… Make this the experience YOU want to look back on and cherish.

In the beginning months, I found myself getting burned out from traveling too much. While I wanted to keep up with my friends, staying in Florence more frequently was what I needed and wanted— and that is perfectly okay! Remember to embrace the discomfort; growth comes from change. Some of my hardest experiences abroad have ended up being the most meaningful. You’ve got this!!

My name is Charlee Doyle, and I am a 2nd year student at Penn State studying abroad with ISI Spring 2025. I joined the Global Leadership Program because at Penn State, I am involved in other leadership organizations that I love, and I wanted to bring that experience abroad with me. Since being in the Global Leadership Program, I believe it definitely enriched my experience in Italy, as I was challenged to immerse myself in the culture in a new way. I got to try authentic Florentine recipes at home, visit new places in Italy like the Galleria dell’Accademia, I got to be a part of The Big Event, and I even joined a pasta-making class that I later took my family to! The networking was also great as I connected with other Penn State students who were involved with the program, and we shared what we learned about Italy so we could adjust to being abroad together. If I were to study abroad again, I would definitely do the GLP because it was fun, immersive, and overall a great way to be involved while studying in a new country!

My favorite part of being in the GLP was The Big Event. It was so awesome cleaning a local park with fellow study abroad students and seeing visible improvement as we cleaned. We also got to speak to local Italians who were curious about the event, and some even thanked us for our efforts. That was a great moment for us, as the goal was to give back to a community that welcomed us. Overall, studying abroad was amazing as I took the time to travel and really experience a wide range of European cultures, an opportunity I would have never gotten had I not accepted the offer to go abroad. As advice to future study abroad students, I suggest getting used to saying “yes” and stepping out of your comfort zone more. If you can, say yes to trying new food, say yes to traveling, say yes to dinner plans with roommates, and really get involved yourself and enjoy where you are to get the most out of it.

Ciao! My name is Anna Stamatos and I am from Baltimore, Maryland. I attend the University of Maryland, where I am majoring in Neuroscience on the Pre-Med track.

My time in Florence has been a very rewarding experience, and I have made many lasting memories. Florence is a relatively small city, but it is packed with things to do and places to explore. I have enjoyed wandering around the city and gardens with a book, especially when the sun is out. I have also joined a run club and local gym, which have become highlights of my experience. I feel that they are both windows into Italian culture, and I have had the opportunity to meet locals, as well as people from all over the world. The connections I’ve made from the gym and run club will definitely remain a part of my life when I return to America. I have also enjoyed my classes, embracing the opportunity to step outside my typical STEM-heavy schedule and explore subjects like Roman history and garment construction.

I have a couple of pieces of advice for future students. Firstly, I would recommend making a list of things that are important for you to do while abroad and scheduling them. The semester goes by so quickly, and it is important to make the most of your time, without feeling rushed at the end. I would also encourage seeking out new experiences and stepping out of your comfort zone. ISI offers many events and workshops, which are great ways to learn a new skill and meet new people. For example, I participated in a leather-making workshop, which was a unique and fun experience. Lastly, looking back, I wish I had set aside more time to explore Italy. Now, places like Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast are at the top of my list for my next visit here. I’d suggest prioritizing local travel, as there’s so much to see just a short distance away.

Ciao! My name is Livi Mazerolle, I am a current junior at Williams College, majoring in English and Art History. I am on the track team at my college and spent the Fall, kind of, training in Florence! I had an amazing time with ISI and would be more than willing to answer any questions about life abroad, Florence, ISI, or anything else!

My favorite experience abroad was a trip I took early on in the semester. I knew it would be my favorite trip from the moment I left. The trip that took the cake for me was a weekend in the Dolomites with one of my roommates. The two of us took two trains, a bus, and a taxi to our trailhead in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Although there were many moving parts (literally and figuratively) this was one of the easiest travel days of the semester. From the trailhead we hiked an hour and a half to our home for the next two days, Rifugio Croda da Lago. We spent two nights with this wonderful family who ran the small, cozy hut. At the Rifugio, we were joined by other hikers stopping along their journeys. We did an 8-mile hike through the Dolomites, ate home-cooked meals, took a dip in the freezing cold pond, and, my favorite, had an afternoon in the sauna/cold plunge. It was the most relaxing, beautiful, and mindful trip. I would recommend everyone to visit the Dolomites while they are in Italy. I went in late September right after peak season ended and it was already pretty cold, so I would recommend visiting in the summer, early fall, or late spring. 

Say yes to everything! Say yes to that €20 flight to a random city, say yes to going out with new friends, say yes to participating in community activities. Life abroad presents itself with so much newness and unfamiliarity. My advice is to lean into that – in the grand scheme of things, your time abroad is short, and before you know it you will be back to the comfort of what you know and are familiar with. While you are here, bask in the uncomfortableness and unknown, you only have it for so long. This semester is a time for you to explore. Put yourself first and create as many memorable experiences as you can, and all that is required from you is saying yes.

Hey! I’m Isaac, a current Junior at the University of Connecticut where I’m studying English and Psychology. Outside of my major, I enjoy studying languages, writing screenplays, writing articles, watching movies, and more. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions regarding anything relating to studying abroad (or any of the other topics listed above). I greatly enjoyed my time abroad and would be happy to share my experience and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Favorite moment in Florence: 
It’s certainly not easy to pick one favorite moment, but I will say my day in the countryside of Tuscany picking chestnuts and eating delicious homemade pasta and tiramisu would be hard to beat. I was lucky enough to be able to venture outside of the city center where it was calmer, and I was surrounded by more nature.

Advice to future students: 
The biggest advice I could give future students is to do their best to get a base in the language before arriving. Not only is it very practically useful, but it elevates your time abroad greatly. Being abroad in Italy is your opportunity to be immersed in another language, which is the best way to learn one, but it isn’t possible if you don’t put in the time and effort to do so. It also enables you to better connect with the locals and allows you to feel more comfortable venturing out.