Studying abroad was one of the most enriching and extraordinary experiences of my entire life. I had the opportunity to learn from outstanding Michigan State professors while in the heart of Rome, Italy and embark on a journey to Cannes, France where I attended the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

The experience enhanced my academic pursuits and career goals by providing me with countless networking opportunities and equipping me with the right tools to make great connections. Additionally, I gained tangible skill sets such as graphic design and programming which will help me stand out in future job applications.

This experience, though, has also affected me on a personal level. I learned so much about myself and my goals while abroad and reached conclusions that I would not have come to had I stayed home this summer. For example, I learned that in-person communication can take you very far, and how moving forward to clearly express my business and personal goals it is important to do so in person. Furthermore, I now hold my professional and personal relationships to a higher standard and can recognize when someone is not being a helpful addition to my life. I had ample time to connect with myself and my newest friends while abroad, allowing me to earn more self-love and appreciate my gifts and talents.

I can also feel confident in my abilities to communicate in a non-English speaking environment due to the kind residents of the host culture. The security guards, restaurant staff, and the locals were all so kind and taught me multiple phrases and customs that I began to utilize daily. Communicating was a little easier for me due to my proficiency in Spanish as many of the words spoken in Italian were quite similar.

The food was absolutely incredible, and I made sure to savor every bite, especially when my roommates and I participated in cooking classes. Making pasta from scratch in Italy was extremely rewarding and tasted the best out of any other dish that we tried.

The program truly exceeded my expectations, I had a general idea of what to expect but it was nothing like I ever could have imagined. The beautiful sights of Italy took my breath away, the gardens, oceans, and monuments that I explored filled me with so much joy.

Now that I have returned home, I am more inspired than ever to go back to Italy at some point and I am going to work very hard to make this happen. I will be forever grateful for the wonderful program that Michigan State has allowed me to experience and for the friendships that I created on the program that I know will last a lifetime

Name: Julia Metas
Status: Junior
Major: Communication
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Program: Advertising and Public Relations a la Mediterranean