Our Featured Alumni

Ciao! My name is Stephanie, and I’m a student at the University of Connecticut studying Analytics and Information Management. I studied abroad in Florence in the Fall 2025 semester. This experience has allowed me to grow both academically and personally. Being able to learn in a new environment while exploring different cultures has been incredibly rewarding, and I would be happy to answer any questions about my experience studying abroad.

Most Memorable Experience:
My favorite memory from studying abroad was skydiving over the Swiss Alps. It was one of the most exhilarating and unforgettable experiences of my life. Jumping out of a plane and seeing the Alps beneath me was both terrifying and breathtaking. The experience pushed me far outside of my comfort zone and made me appreciate how lucky I am to have the opportunity to travel and try things I never imagined doing. It is a moment I’ll carry with me forever.

Advice for Future Students:
My advice for future students is to embrace new experiences, even when they feel intimidating. Studying abroad can be overwhelming at times, especially when you’re adjusting to a new country, culture, and routine. It is okay to feel uncomfortable or unsure in the beginning, but it is these moments that lead to growth. Another thing would be to not put too much pressure on yourself to do everything perfectly or compare your experience to others. Everyone’s journey looks different and that is what makes it meaningful.

Hi! I’m Sophia Xie, a third-year Chemistry major and Psychology minor at the University of Virginia on the pre-med track. This semester, I am taking a couple of psychology classes for my minor, a food history class, and Italian. I decided to go abroad because I wanted to step outside the usual medical school prerequisites, and I’m so glad I did. My time studying abroad in Florence through ISI was truly unforgettable. 

Favorite Memory Abroad:
Some of my best moments in Florence came from simply wandering through the city’s streets. I loved going into unique shops, people-watching, and catching sunsets over the bridges or from the Piazzale Michelangelo overlook. The atmosphere in Florence is contagious—street performers, pop-up markets, and the everyday beauty of the city made even the smallest excursions feel special. Any time spent outside my apartment exploring what Florence had to offer became a favorite memory.

Advice for Future Students:
My biggest piece of advice for anyone planning to study abroad is to rest when you need to. Traveling every weekend can be exciting but exhausting, and it’s completely okay to slow down and recharge. Do things that fill your cup and you’ll enjoy your experience so much more when you’re taking care of yourself.

Ciao! My name is Maya Stoddard and I am from Guilford, Connecticut. I attend UConn where I am majoring in Fine Arts with a double concentration in Painting/Drawing and Graphic Design, as well as a goalie on the Women’s Club Lacrosse team.

My time in Florence has been some of the best of my life. I loved going for walks around the city, attending soccer games, and spending time with good friends and good food. I loved exploring the city and discovering new places to eat, as well as looking forward to the sunsets from my bridge home every night.

Some advice for future students is to jump on every opportunity you can. You’re only in Florence for so long and it goes by before you even know it. Travel every chance you get and see the rest of the world. Talk to everybody because you never know who’s going to be one of your new closest friends. Take day trips around Italy and explore what is right next door to you, you don’t have to go far to experience something completely different. Most of all, cherish the time you have and don’t take it for granted, live in the present as much as possible and make amazing memories.

Favorite Memory:
My favorite abroad memory was my trip to Oktoberfest. My mom was born in Germany, so Oktoberfest has always been on my bucket list. I planned to go with two of my close friends from Williams which ended up being such a great time, despite so many mishaps. For starters, there was a huge general strike in Italy that meant I had to bike to the airport alone at 4 am. Then, we flew to Frankfurt instead of Munich to save some money — which ended up being super cool, but not less expensive. Our third mishap was booking the cheapest hotel that was outside of the Munich City Center, which meant we were about a 40 minute train away from Munich and it took 30 minutes to walk to our hotel from the station. There were no taxis. It was completely dark. We were terrified, but it ended up being a great bonding experience. The next morning we left for Munich by 4 am, were in line before 6, and ended up sprinting to get a table in the center of the Hofbrau tent. We met so many people, ate so much food, and even got to experience some of the rides there. It wasn’t a perfect trip by any means but it felt great to go with the flow and explore new cities.

My advice:
My best advice for going abroad is to learn the language. In Florence, everyone speaks English. It is extremely easy to just always speak in English; however, doing so would rob you of the experience to fully immerse yourself in the Florentine culture. It is very difficult to have the confidence to speak Italian because of the fear of being judged, but in my experience, the people in Florence love it when travellers attempt to use the language. It shows that you are here for more than just clubbing and drinking. Put your best effort into your Italian class and the effort will pay off with the people you will meet. 

Ciao ragazzi! My name is Marika Langerman and I am from Rockville, Maryland. I attend the University of Maryland and will be graduating Spring 2026 with my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. UMD has not seen the last of me though, as I plan to pursue my Master’s Degree there as well!

Favorite Memory in Florence:
My favorite moment in Florence was when my five roommates and I, along with 10 of our friends that we made along the way, got together to celebrate Friendsgiving. We spent the evening cooking, sharing stories, and laughing until our stomachs hurt. Even in a city so far from home, the warmth, friendship, and sense of community made it feel like the holiday had followed us here. It was a night full of gratitude, and memories I’ll cherish forever.

Advice for Future Students:
The best advice I could give is to slow down. This opportunity you’ve been given to study abroad is unique, and it’s your chance to really savor this experience. It’s easy to get caught up in seeing every landmark or rushing from city to city, but some of the best memories come from the unplanned moments. Wandering through cobblestone streets, grabbing a cornetto and sipping on a cappuccino in a small cafe, or sharing a home-cooked meal with friends. Slowing down allows you to fully appreciate the culture, the people, and the everyday beauty that makes Italy so unforgettable. So please, take a deep breath, and don’t forget to slow down!

Short bio: 
Hi! My name is Cullen, and I am from New York, NY. I am a junior at Williams College double-majoring in Political Economy and Art History. After graduation, I plan to work in NYC within the finance and advisory banking 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:
My most memorable experience while abroad has been taking advantage of the small format of ISI to make as many friends as possible. Since coming here I have developed an entirely new network of people I am proud to call my friends. I love learning about their lives, laughing at jokes with them, and getting to know them over the course of 15 short weeks. Making these friends here has made my experience incredibly special and I can’t wait to spend time with them back home. 

Advice for future students:
My biggest piece of advice would be to try your best to talk to everyone you can. It quickly makes you forget your homesickness when you first get here, and it makes the days pass by almost too quickly. You may be coming with friends or maybe an entire group of friends from back home and that’s great! However, don’t let that group limit who you talk to or who you share new experiences with. 

Short Bio
Ciao! My name is Bijan Behzadi. I’m a Senior at UConn majoring in Communications and currently studying abroad in the Fall 2025 ISI Florence program. Since the start of the semester, I’ve been a part of many activities and courses exclusively offered in Italy and I’ve enjoyed them all. Living in Italy for a semester has been filled with so many special moments for me and I’m happy to answer any questions you may have about the program. 

Most Memorable Experience
I’ve had so many great experiences during my time abroad. I’ve taken opportunities to travel throughout Italy and one of the highlights of my time here was going to Eurochocolate in Perugia. It’s a festival celebrating chocolate and it exceeded my expectations. Being selected into the Global Leadership Program has been a great experience. It enriched my trip so much and offered me experiences I may have missed out on otherwise. 

Advice for Future Students:
For future study abroad students, my advice would be to take advantage of every opportunity. There might be something you thought you’d never be good at, but you might surprise yourself! It also presents a chance for you to meet other students and make new friends during the semester. A lot can happen in three months in terms of travelling and doing assignments. That’s why I’d also recommend incorporating balance into your daily routine. Being abroad will give you some time to adjust and form a new routine, and when you plan everything in advance you’ll be providing less stress on yourself. Remember, there are days you might feel overworked or overwhelmed, so never forget to take a minute to breathe and relax. You will be faced with new challenges when you’re abroad, but stepping into an entirely new country is what makes studying abroad so exciting. 

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.