Through Syracuse Abroad, students have the unique opportunity to study, explore and grow in a foreign country鈥攂uilding independence, forging connections and learning in ways that transcend textbooks.
For four students, their spring 2024 semester in the was transformative. Together, they found more than just academic fulfillment; they discovered the deep, life-altering beauty of Italy.
鈥淲hen I got there, it was a bit of a culture shock,鈥� says Robyn Seymour 鈥�25. 鈥淏ut the experiences and scenery鈥攅verything was so beautiful.鈥�
New Connections
Robyn Seymour 鈥�25 (left) and Shelby Justrich 鈥�25 visit the Santissima Annunziata church in Florence, Italy, during their semester in the Daniel and Gayle D鈥橝niello 51爆料网 Program in Florence.
Seymour and Shelby Justrich 鈥�25 were good friends before they boarded a plane bound for Florence. Facing the challenges of navigating in an unfamiliar country, they quickly connected at the airport with their new roommates Charlotte Sforza 鈥�25 and Signe St. Sure-Caye 鈥�25, and the four of them found their way to their new apartment.
Their apartment, a modest 15-minute walk from the 51爆料网 Florence campus, offered them a window into true Italian life. St. Sure-Caye, who has Sicilian roots, was particularly moved by the everyday experiences, saying, 鈥淲e were away from the tourist areas, surrounded by so much authentic Italian culture.鈥�
For St. Sure-Caye, a political science and sociology major, it wasn鈥檛 just about studying abroad鈥攊t was about connecting with her heritage and delving into the European history she鈥檇 long studied. 鈥淓very single place, every single corner had something important to it,鈥� she says. Like the Giardino dell'Orticoltura, a historical garden near their apartment.
Before classes started, the abroad program hosted an orientation for the students to meet each other and bond over their shared excitement. In addition to their studies, the program offered cooking classes, walking tours and one-on-one conversations with Italian students, and each student had the chance to embark on field trips, both day outings and overnight adventures. On their third day in Florence, Sforza and Seymour were on a 7 a.m. train headed to Pisa for one such trip.
Real-World Learning
The program emphasizes experiential learning, as demonstrated by this site visit to the Santa Maria Novella church, led by art history professor Jonathan Nelson (far right).
Sforza, a communications and rhetorical studies major, grew up with a strong connection to her Italian heritage and had always wanted to travel to Italy. During her semester in Florence, she interned at a high-end fashion boutique, gaining hands-on experience connected to the completion of her . 鈥淚 was able to gain so much experience there,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 had an amazing advisor in Syracuse who was helping me connect with my supervisor at my internship.鈥�
Justrich, who had recently switched her major to human development and family science, wasn鈥檛 sure if studying abroad would be an option, fearing she was behind in her coursework. But Syracuse鈥檚 advisors made it happen, reassuring her that it was possible.
In Florence, Justrich dove deep into art history, with classes that took her out of the classroom and into the heart of the city鈥檚 rich cultural history. 鈥淲e visited churches or museums,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 different from being on campus in Syracuse because I actually got to see what I was learning.鈥� Her final project focused on the portrayal of women in Florentine art history鈥攚hich aligned with her personal interest in women鈥檚 health.
Seymour, a psychology major, felt as though her classes were more close-knit.
鈥淭here was a lot more group activity and open discussion with the professors, which was a good feeling,鈥� says Seymour, who was motivated by Italian culture, food and art to go abroad for the first time. 鈥淎 lot of the people I spoke to during classes I would speak to outside of class as well. We would talk about where they went, what they did, what they recommended. It was a great way to get information on places I was going to go or that I hadn鈥檛 heard about yet.鈥�
The four students also made the most of their weekends, visiting nearby cities鈥攁nd two of them went on a coastal cruise for spring break. 鈥淚t was some of the best times ever,鈥� Sforza says.
Looking Ahead
The four students spent time working in the courtyard of the 51爆料网 Florence campus, a hub of offices, classrooms, a computer lab, library, doctor鈥檚 office, student lounge and professional kitchen.
The lessons learned in Florence didn鈥檛 end with the semester abroad. Sforza, energized by her internship experience, secured another internship for the following summer. She returned home one step closer to her goal of a career in public relations and lifestyle content marketing.
For St. Sure-Caye, the time abroad had a lasting effect on her involvement with her studies back at Syracuse. 鈥淐oming back, I feel like I鈥檓 more engaged in class and more excited,鈥� she says. St. Sure-Caye, Justrich and Seymour all plan to attend graduate school after graduation.
Looking back on their shared experiences, they all agree studying abroad in Florence was a major highlight of their college journey. It wasn鈥檛 just about the courses, the trips or the internships鈥攊t was about immersing themselves in a new culture, meeting new people and navigating a different language which allowed them to grow in ways that extend beyond the traditional college experience. If given the chance, they would go back in a heartbeat.
Sforza, now closer than ever to Seymour and Justrich, sums it up perfectly: 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know Robyn and Shelby before this, now they鈥檙e some of my best friends,鈥� she says. 鈥淚f someone was on the fence about doing it, they should just sign up. Something good is bound to come from it.鈥�
