March 20, 2025
Maddie Michelotti '25
Notes from Abroad: Maddie in Italy
Maddie at Piazzale Michelangelo
Maddie Michelotti '25, a Business major with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Environmental Studies, is studying abroad at the Florence University of the Arts in Florence, Italy.
My time abroad has been the most valuable experience of my life so far! Studying abroad especially in Florence, Italy has been something I had always dreamed of, and I am so fortunate to experience living within a different culture from my own and be where my grandparents are from. I have visited so many new places and have met the best people and I will carry these moments with me for the rest of my life.
I have really tried to use this experience to learn the most I can about myself. By going to a new place so far from home all by myself, I was already putting myself outside of my comfort zone, but I have also used the time to go on solo trips. I recently went on a solo trip to Paris where I spent the weekend by myself to explore the city. I visited all the sights such as the Louvre and Eiffel Tower and it all felt so surreal. Doing it all by myself was a learning curve but it pushed me to be independent and be confident of my abilities. By the time the trip was over, I left with a newfound appreciation for a new city and for myself. I feel more confident and have a deeper appreciation for the places around me. I feel so fortunate to have explored so many new places.
Florence has been the perfect city to study abroad in. The culture runs so deep and there is so much history to explore and learn about. My classes are heavily centered around the city which has allowed me to further appreciate where I have been staying. I walk past the famous duomo every day on my walk to my classes which feels surreal, and it is crazy to think that this is my life. I am about halfway through my time here and I can’t wait for the many more memories I will create and places I will see!
Thank you to G. Dale Smith and Ruth Peterson Smith for their assistance in my abroad journey. This has truly been a once in a lifetime opportunity and the support means so much to me. Their help has allowed me to follow my dreams!
Maddie traveled to Nice, France:
