Personal Impacts of Study Abroad

Weeks before leaving for the study abroad program, I had some senses of doubt. I started to get anxious about being in a new place with people I had never met before and wanted to withdraw. I pushed myself to make it to the airport, and right after hugging my parents goodbye, my mom said to me "Jess, you have been talking about doing this since you were little." She was right, I had been dreaming of this experience since I could remember and knew at that moment that this was something that I needed to do. After that realization, I changed my perspective. I told myself that everything in life is a lesson, and that even if I did not enjoy myself, at least I was brave enough to do it.

After just the first week of being in Paderno Del Grappa, I knew that I had made the right decision to come. From just flying to Italy on my own, I had felt more confident than before I left. After the first week of classes, it was time to start traveling. I made a group of friends in which I instantly felt comfortable with. Although they all went to my school, I had barely ever talked to them before CIMBA. We traveled every weekend together where we encountered so much. Reflecting on this experience as a whole, I have a few key takeaways that I want to share.

I gained a global perspective on the world through my travels as well as the Global Consumer course I took. During the course, we read articles on China, Italy, and Africa and discussed what we read the following day. Before taking that course, I felt like I almost lived in my own bubble. I never thought to do much global research on current events or what was going on in the world because I was too selfishly consumed in my own life. Taking that course advanced my knowledge on current events and issues, most of which I had no idea were happening. Along with the course, emerging myself into Italian culture definitely broadened my perspective. In Rome, I was able to see numerous historical sites where I learned about Italian history dating back to 72 AD, when the Colosseum was built. In the towns near my campus, I talked to locals and restaurant and shop owners where I learned about the history of the Veneto region as well as the lives of the locals. It was interesting to do some reflecting and compare life in Italy to life in America.?

The second takeaway is learning how to adapt to change. Before studying abroad, I had a picture in my head as to what every weekend was going to be like and every single time it was quite the opposite. Whether it was missing our connecting train or taking a bus going in the opposite direction, I do not think there was a single day where everything went as planned. Those little things were what made my experience so special. They taught me how to problem-solve and adapt to change quickly with a group. I learned more about change in four weeks than I have in my entire life. Like I said in my reflection of the first five days at CIMBA, moments and feelings of being uncomfortable was what this whole trip is about. If you are not uncomfortable, you are not challenging yourself, and if you are not challenging yourself, you are not learning.

Lastly, I feel as if I met a new version of myself. Like I said before, coming here was not easy for me. Walking away from my home, friends, and family was a big change. Spending weeks in a country that I have never been to before with people I barely knew forced me to open up in ways that I have not before and I can easily say that I feel more confident than I was before this trip. Being able to manage my school work, relationships, and travel while being deprived of sleep taught me that I am capable of anything if I just push myself. With the hours of train and plane rides, I had a lot of time for reflection where I deeply thought about what I have learned and better yet, what I want out of my life. I feel that this trip gave me a new positive identity that I can bring into my academic, professional, and personal life.?

Overall, I am so grateful to have been able to have an opportunity to be able to study abroad. It has exceeded my expectations and has taught me things that are hard for me to even put into words. I feel like I have a better understanding of the world and myself. I can confidently say that I am leaving CIMBA with a set of new experiences, skills, and relationships. I truly feel empowered after this trip and am so excited to use what I have learned in the remainder of my life!?

Jessica Polino is a Senior Digital Marketing and E-commerce student at Western Michigan University studying abroad in Paderno Del Grappa, Italy.