Swanson School of Engineering

I have been obsessed with travel since my first flight at six months old. I adore exploring new places and immersing myself in foreign cultures. I have been fortunate enough to travel to many places thus far in my life and have plans for even more. My favorite part of any trip is always the stories you stumble upon. Sometimes it comes from wandering into a random little shop and sometimes it comes from talking to your waiter at dinner, but it is always compelling. I find it so interesting to learn about life in a new place from the first-hand stories of locals. I think it is such a great way to engage with the culture. I am thrilled to be going to Florence. Italy has always been a dream destination of mine so getting to spend a month embracing the city of Florence and its culture is a beautiful reality. I am so excited to learn the history of the city, explore how that history is still relevant to modern society, and (let’s be honest) eat a ton of pasta. I plan to cherish every moment of the next four weeks and learn as much as I can, of course in the classroom, but also from the people I meet around the city.