Life Before 

I genuinely believe studying abroad has changed my entire perspective on life. Before living in Florence, everything felt predictable. Days blended together, each one a copy and paste of the last. There was no real joy, no spontaneity, no sense of freedom. I didn’t even realize how boring life felt until I stepped off that plane and into a world completely different from my own. 

Florence showed me how big the world truly is and how small my worries were in comparison. That bad test grade? Irrelevant. What others think of you? Not worth sacrificing peace over. The moment I let myself embrace a new environment, I started to see how much more life had to offer. 

But to experience something so life changing, you have to be brave. Brave enough to buy the plane ticket. Open enough to make new friends. Optimistic enough to trust that it will all work out. And I promise you, it does. 

Culture Shock 

Obviously, Italy is not America. And thank goodness for that. 

In Florence, life moves at a gentler pace. You sip a cappuccino at 10 AM without guilt. You take two hours to eat lunch not because you’re avoiding responsibilities, but because people value meals and the people you share them with. You don’t ask for the check immediately because lingering at the table is part of the experience. You walk 30 minutes instead of taking a five minute bus because the journey is the point, not just the destination. 

Time is appreciated in Florence. No one is sprinting to work or juggling three jobs just to stay afloat. Businesses close from 1 to 3 PM so everyone can enjoy a real, stress-free lunch. No endless grind. No glorification of overtime. After growing up in a culture where productivity equals worth, seeing people live to live, not live to work, was eye-opening. It made me question what I really want my life to look like. 

Taking Risks & Learning 

One of the biggest lessons I learned abroad is that growth doesn’t happen in comfort. Every risk I took here, no matter how small, taught me something valuable. Whether it was navigating a new city alone, saying yes to spontaneous weekend trips, trying food I couldn’t pronounce, or simply asking someone to hang out, each moment pushed me to trust myself a little more. 

I learned how capable I am. I learned that mistakes are part of the process. I learned that being lost isn’t always a bad thing. And I learned that the best memories often come from the plans that completely fall apart. 

Studying abroad teaches you in ways the classroom never could. You become more independent, more confident, more flexible, and more open to the unexpected. You realize the world isn’t nearly as scary as it seems. 

Eye-Opening Experiences 

Some of the most meaningful moments abroad were the ones I never planned for. The quiet morning walks across the Arno when the city was still waking up. Seeing the Duomo at three in the morning when no one else is around. The conversations with locals that made the language barrier feel small. The nights where I laughed until I cried with people who were strangers just months before. 

Florence gave me reminders of what really matters in life: connection, curiosity, simplicity, and joy. It showed me that beauty exists in the little things. A perfectly soft croissant, a sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo, a coffee shop worker remembering your order, a street musician playing your favorite song. These experiences opened my eyes to a version of myself I didn’t know existed, someone more confident, freer, and happier. 

Studying in Florence made it easy to see the rest of the world too. Endless weekend trips, sleeping on airport floors, experiencing new cultures. Traveling made it possible to find myself and provided me with countless stories to bring back home. I truly believe I am a changed person, having the privilege to see the world through my young eyes and meet so many amazing people along the way does something to a person that is entirely indescribable.

JUST. DO. IT. 

If you’re thinking about studying abroad, here’s my advice: just do it. 

Don’t wait for the “perfect timing,” because it doesn’t exist. Don’t talk yourself out of something simply because it’s unfamiliar. Don’t overthink it. Don’t worry about what you’re leaving behind. No one ever feels “ready” to uproot their life, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need. Everything meaningful in my life has come from stepping into the unknown, and studying abroad was the biggest, scariest, and most rewarding leap I’ve ever taken. 

Just do it. Because one day, you’ll look back and realize this experience didn’t just come and go. It changed how you see the world. It changed how you see yourself. It gave you stories, perspectives, and confidence you didn’t know you needed. It taught you that you are capable of more than you’ve ever given yourself credit for. It gave you friends you never knew you’d have. 

Most importantly, just do it because you deserve a life full of color, excitement, and possibility. You deserve memories you’ll carry for the rest of your life and the one’s that become part of who you are. You deserve to feel alive in a way you didn’t even realize you were missing. Studying abroad won’t solve everything, but it will open your heart, reshape your priorities, and remind you that the world is bigger, kinder, and more beautiful than you ever imagined. 

Buy the plane ticket. Say yes to the adventure. Choose the version of life that feels full, exciting, and unpredictable. 

Studying abroad didn’t just change my semester, it changed me. And if you let it, it will change you too.

 

Check out our TikTok! https://www.instagram.com/p/DR63okQjUPB/

And our YouTube video! https://youtu.be/-b-6bSZWIPE

By: Alessia Visocchi, Olivia Aselton, Cecelia Carnelli, and Ella Damon