Andrew Gorski

Overall Experience

My overall experience in the Roman Italy: Building the Empire program was extremely positive. Over the course of three weeks in Rome, I had the opportunity to engage in daily exploration of archaeological sites, museums, and historically significant locations. The program also included some class trip to Naples and Pompeii, as well as day trips to sites such as Ostia Antica and Hadrian's Villa, which were all fascinating and provided valuable insight into the complexity of Roman history. Experiencing these locations greatly enhanced my understanding of the material beyond what could be learned in a traditional classroom setting. Additionally, Professors Meyers and Hollander played a significant role in making the program engaging and meaningful through their knowledge and support which contributed greatly to my experience.

Learning experience

The most valuable learning experience I have from this program was adapting to a new environment and developing a greater sense of independence. Living in Rome required me to adjust to a different way of life like navigating transportation systems and adapting to differences, all while managing the daily responsibilities that came with the program. I had to become comfortable with unfamiliar situations. Initially, this adjustment was a little challenging, but by a few days in I already became more confident and comfortable. Through this experience, I learned the importance of adaptability, problem-solving, and stepping outside of my comfort zone. I also gained a greater appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. Beyond the academic aspects of the program, this experience taught me valuable life skills that will continue to benefit me personally and professionally in the future.

Memorable experience

I think the most memorable experience from my study abroad program was our three-day class trip to Naples and Pompeii. This experience truly amazing and Pompeii was the location where I delivered my 15-minute oral report, which served as one of the major assignments for the program. We transformed a research paper that we had written into a formal presentation and presented it while at the sites we visited. Being able to give my report in the place where the events and actions I had researched actually existed created a very cool and unique learning experience. Presenting at Pompeii not only strengthened my understanding of the subject matter, but also it increased my confidence in my abilities as a researcher and public speaker. It was an experience that I will remember for years to come.

What did you not expect?

One thing that I really did not expect was how quickly I would become comfortable adapting to an entirely new environment and way of life. Before the program, I anticipated that adjusting to a the Italian culture, transportation systems, and my daily routines would be difficult throughout the experience. While there was an adjustment period at the beginning, I was surprised by how much I grew in confidence and independence in a relatively short amount of time. This experience showed me that it's very beneficial to step outside my comfort zone and challenge myself to grow comfortable in unfamiliar situations. As I pursue a career as a secondary education teacher, this experience will influence the way I approach my profession by encouraging me to create learning opportunities that challenge students to think critically and engage with new perspectives. Personally, it also reinforced the importance of being adaptable and open to new experiences.

What advice would you give?

My advice to students who are thinking about studying abroad would be to find a program that fits what you're looking for and just do it. While studying abroad I think some good advice is to make the most out of each day, because the experience will fly by.

How has this experience impacted your life?

This experience has had a meaningful impact on both my personal and academic development. Studying abroad pushed me outside of my comfort zone at times and allowed me to develop greater independence, adaptability, and confidence while navigating a new environment. Learning to adjust to daily life in another country helped me grow in ways thatI didn't expect. As someone who hopes to teach someday experiencing the history firsthand transformed the way I view learning and reinforced the importance of active engagement with historical material. Seeing archaeological sites, artifacts, and historical spaces in person provided a deeper understanding that cannot be fully replicated through textbooks alone. This experience will inspire me to create meaningful learning opportunities for future students in my classes and it has strengthened my desire to make history engaging and relatable. Long-term, this experience has reinforced my commitment to a career in education and has given me valuable perspectives that I hope to bring into my future classroom.

How did you learn about this experience?

I first learned about this program on the study abroad website. The program seemed to be a good fit for what I was looking for, so I applied to it. After meeting with the professors I felt confident that the program was going to be able to provide the learning opportunities I was looking for in a study abroad program. I'm glad I choose the program.

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