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.