Our Featured Alumni

Hi! My name is Isabella Valentine and I am in my third year at the University of Virginia. I am majoring in Global Commerce in Culture and Society with a double minor in Psychology and Leadership. After graduation, I hope to work abroad. 

Favorite Moment in Florence 

It is hard to pick one moment in Florence that was my favorite. I would say my favorite moment would be going to Piazza Michaelangelo with my friends for sunset and an aperitivo. The hike up is definitely worth it! It is a great place to relax at the end of the day while overlooking the entire city of Florence. 

Advice for Future Students

Coming abroad can be an overwhelming experience, so I would say it is important to live in the moment and appreciate all the small day-to-day things that bring you joy while studying in Florence. Whether that be getting a daily coffee, or chatting with friends while walking to class, all these small moments are what you will treasure at the end of the semester. I also would advise you to fully immerse yourself in the Italian culture while living here. There is so much to learn from their way of life, so taking advantage of learning more about Italian history, language, food, and customs is very important. Finally, I recommend prioritizing travel within Italy when you are studying in Florence. There are so many hidden gems in Italy that are easy to visit by train. 

Hi! My name is Carlos, I am currently a junior at the University of Hartford and I’m majoring in Architecture Design and Technology with a concentration in Environmental Sustainability. After I graduate I plan on going to graduate school, working part-time at a firm in New York City, designing environmentally friendly buildings, and creating more unique adventures. 

Favorite Moment in Florence:

My favorite memories while studying aboard here in the beautiful city of Florence, are the family dinners my friends and I do every week with fresh ingredients. Living in San Niccolò, across the River Arno from the school, is another highlight, walking through the small local family-owned shops and restaurants is amazing, you can find these communities anywhere and feel like you belong. It’s awesome being able to learn a new language and show locals how international students adapt to the Florentine culture. 

Advice to Future Students: You might have heard this before but I definitely want to shine more light on this advice, which is to not be afraid of new experiences, and putting yourself out there – you coming to Florence shows you already want to. Florence has so many events and places for you to be out exploring. ISI sends reminders and a list of new events for you to take part in and I encourage everyone to step out of their comfort zone because there are new beginnings to be discovered. The staff and teachers at ISI are open to helping students anytime to enjoy every moment of their time and I’m happy with the new relationships I’ve created with the staff and teachers here that will never be forgotten. A truly unbelievable experience, and all it takes is for you to just be a little open and adventurous. 

Bio

Current Junior at the University of Connecticut, graduating class of 2024! I am a communications major and a yoga teacher! I hope to be able to travel all around the world after graduating and hopefully make my way into digital media and marketing!

Favorite Moment in Florence

I truly have had so many incredible experiences throughout my time studying abroad it is hard to pick just one! But if I must, I would have to say when my friends from home came to visit me. When I first got here I felt like I was in the clouds, as though none of this was real because it has always been such a dream of mine. Geing to see them experience Florence for the first time was like reliving that first week, but ten times beer because I had the hang of things by this point. So I got to take my best friends to all of my favorite places and watch them discover theirs!

Advice to future students!

One huge piece of advice I would give to future students is to leave your expectations at home. I know it is a huge ask because we hear things from friends, family, social media, and school. I cannot stress enough how important it is to live your own experience. Sometimes seeing others can cloud your own and you may want to have a similar experience or expect yours will go one way. But studying abroad is about enjoying the unexpected and going with the flow. Don’t get caught up in other people’s lives, live yours!

Bio: Hi! I am a junior from northern New Jersey, majoring in psychology at the University of Maryland. I love to learn about improving personal happiness/wellness, and I hope to pursue a graduate degree in a related field following graduation!

Most memorable experience:

Hiking in the mountains of Tuscany was a day I will never forget! As much as I appreciate all of the history and culture in Florence, here and there, I have missed spending time in nature. This inspired my roommates to explore the trails of Fiesole. We began at Cave di Maiano and continued until we reached Piazzale Leonardo,  also known as the place that inspired Leonardo DaVinci’s invention of the “Great Kite.” Although this hike was more challenging than anticipated, the hard work made the views over Florence so satisfying! We stopped at a local gelateria in Fiesole on the walk back to Florence, which was the cherry on top of an amazing adventure!

Advice for coming students:

Make the most of each day when you are abroad! With all of the excitement, time flies by so quickly. It’s so important to be intentional about how you spend your time abroad. Try to focus on getting enough sleep and taking care of your physical/mental to give yourself the energy to do as many things as possible. Spend more time exploring new areas of the city, talking to new people, trying new foods, learning more, or doing whatever it is that you like to do! Obviously, you are human, and everyone needs to take breaks at times. Just keep in mind that your time is precious, and you get to choose how you spend it!

My name is Kyle, and I am currently a Senior at the University of Maryland. I am studying Criminal Justice and Criminology, and will be graduating in Spring 2023! I am very excited about the opportunities and adventures that I face following graduation!

Favorite Moment In Florence:

Many of my favorite experiences in Florence were spent when my parents visited, and I was able to act as their personal tour guide throughout the city. My father had previously studied in Florence, and being able to compare our lives in the city, and share some of the same experiences meant a lot to me. It was incredible having the ability to demonstrate my knowledge of the city and show how I had adapted to my new surroundings. 

Advice to Future Students:

The best advice I can give to incoming ISI students is to simply put yourself out there, and try to meet as many people as you can. There are so many interesting and engaging people throughout the program! I definitely feel that I have developed special bonds with the friends that I have made at ISI, and I truly believe that the people are what make this entire experience something to remember!

I am currently a sophomore at the University of Louisville, majoring in psychology and marketing. After graduating I plan on attending medical school and getting my MBA. My main goal is to become a psychiatrist. 

Most Memorable Experience:

I have made countless beautiful memories while studying in Florence, but my favorite has to be stumbling upon the flea markets in Piazza Santo Spirito. After a museum visit at Palazzo Pitti, my roommates and I got lost in the streets and stumbled on this lively flea market. This market had a variety of vendors selling things such as clothing, baked goods, wine, food, jewelry, and so much more. I ended up purchasing lots of vintage clothes and jewelry. To end the day, I had a beautiful lasagna al ragu at a local trattoria. The welcoming and ethereal energy I felt amongst the locals of Oltrano in Santo Spirito is something that I cannot fully put into words. 

Advice for future students:

My best advice is to soak it all in and to take everything day by day. Although four months may seem like a long time, this time will fly by quicker than you could ever imagine. It is a very unique opportunity to be able to stay in Florence for such an extended period of time, so make the most of it! Try new foods, speak Italian to locals, travel around to different cities, do anything that will fully immerse you in the culture of Italy. My favorite moments while abroad came when I did something I was nervous or afraid of. By trying new experiences and getting out of your comfort zone, you will grow so much as a person. Things may feel unfamiliar at times, and you may feel a little homesick, but you should always believe in yourself, and you will have the wonderful staff at ISI Florence to help you through the process!

I am currently a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park. I’m majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice with minors in Sociology and Sustainability Studies. After I graduate I plan on continuing my education and attending law school.

My favorite memory in Florence:

I have had so many memorable moments while living here in Florence but I would say the most memorable would be when I got the opportunity to start a donation drive for a local shelter. For Thanksgiving, I wanted to give back and give thanks to the community here in Florence and to help those in need. The students and staff at ISI were able to donate numerous items to both the women and children living at the shelter. Overall, this experience has been rewarding and I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to organize this donation drive and to give back to those who need it the most.

Advice for future students:

Before traveling to Florence I would highly recommend not bringing as many things in your luggage because you’ll end up wanting to bring a bit of Florence back home with you. Now a piece of advice while staying in Florence would be to attend the many activities ISI creates for their students. They have volunteer opportunities as well as group activities such as cooking classes, boat tours of the Arno river, leather-making classes, and much more. Taking part in these activities is a great way to not only make friends but to also explore the city and immerse yourself in the culture. 

Current senior at Penn State University, class of 2023. Studying Supply Chain Management with a minor in Information Systems Management. I hope to enter a Supply Chain rotational program following graduation and expand my skills and knowledge—maybe even end up living abroad someday and working in global supply chain! 

Favorite Moment in Florence

My time in Florence has been filled with beautiful memories all across the city, so it’s hard to choose one single moment that was my favorite! However, the best moments have been during my mornings every weekday in my favorite bakery, Forno Ghibellina. Aside from trying all their delicious pastries and breads, I’ve gotten to know the owner and all the workers on a personal level, which has been incredibly special for me. It is in moments when I’m sitting and chatting with all the local italians in Forno that I have felt at home in Florence. 

Advice to Future Students

The biggest advice I can give to future students is to think LOCAL. Shop at the fresh markets, spend time interacting with Florentine people, and most of all, utilize the Italian language! You will find it so much easier to be immersed in the culture when you make the effort to improve your language skills. In addition to this, seek out authentic and non-touristy activities (although those are great too). There are numerous hidden gems just a train, bus, or even a short walk outside of the city center! ISI does a fantastic job of listing local markets each month, but also ask around and discover all the local activities as well! I have felt that all of these make Florence feel like a true home. 

My name is Varunika and I am a senior at University of Maryland! I’m majoring in computer science and I would like to be a Software Engineer after I graduate! 

Favorite memory:
My favorite moment here is watching the sunset. No matter where I am it’s gorgeous and sometimes it’ll sneak up on me. It makes my walks after class very worthwhile and lights up the city right before it gets dark. It’s a very surreal moment when everyone around you stops for a moment to take a look at the sky. 

Advice to future students:
My piece of advice for study abroad students is to stay curious. Once you’ve settled in for a few weeks it’s easy to stick with the same places you know but keep asking questions to discover new places and keep wandering to areas of Florence you haven’t crossed yet. Ask questions when you meet new people. If it’s an artisan, ask them about their trade and how they got into it or if it’s the servers at your go-to cafe/gelateria, talk to them and try to learn about where they went to school and where they’ve traveled. Don’t be afraid to use the language in new places and ask ISI staff or your teachers if you ever have any questions! People here will adore your curiosity and are usually happy to answer your questions and it’ll help you learn so much in your abroad experience! 

Hello! My name is Thomas Jurasits. As of Fall 2022, I am a fourth-year student at the University of Virginia and I am majoring in Cognitive Science with a concentration in Neuroscience. My goal is to go to medical school to become a psychiatrist.

Favorite Moment in Florence

My favorite moment in Florence was when my Forensic Psychology class had a day-trip to an escape room! Two of my roommates were there with me but I wasn’t familiar with everyone else in the class yet so it was a really fun bonding experience to try and solve puzzles together. Half of us started the escape room handcuffed but we eventually were able to all get free, but we ran out of time while we were finishing the last puzzle! We probably would have finished with ample time but we kept dapping each other up with these fake hands we found in the escape room and dilly-dallying in other fun ways while we should’ve been trying to escape a murderer. Even though we didn’t succeed, we all had a blast and everyone in that class became good friends of mine.

Advice for Future Students

My advice for future ISI students is that you should use your time here to find out what brings you joy in life. You will have so many opportunities to travel while in Florence so it is a good idea to travel to diverse places and figure out the kinds of environments which you enjoy. On top of that, there is no need to travel places just because the people around you are traveling there and you don’t want to miss out- if you know a place isn’t your ideal vibe then it is totally okay to stay in Florence! This is a wonderful city with many things to do, I’d heavily encourage anyone to step outside of their comfort zone and try as many new things as you can, but you also shouldn’t sully your experience by adding stress (both monetary and the stress of planning trips) to your life if it isn’t a place you want to go. But if you do have the means, please do travel! Even though I love Florence, traveling to new places is such a large part of the fun in studying abroad. ISI also has plenty of staff members that can give you advice and help you plan your trips if you are nervous.