Emmalyn Lacz
During the spring semester of my junior year, I studied abroad in Florence, Italy through Syracuse University Florence. While my major is Real Estate and Finance, I intentionally took classes outside my comfort zone, focusing on Italian history, art history and topics such as the mafia and criminal culture. Although I normally don’t enjoy history-based subjects, I found these courses much more engaging when they were tied directly to the city I was living in. I especially loved immersing myself in Italian culture, which emphasizes slowing down, building relationships and spending quality time with others through aperitivo and long meals. Outside of class, I enjoyed being able to walk everywhere and travel throughout Italy, experiencing how each region offers something completely unique.
What surprised me most was how socially challenging the experience could be. I came to Florence without a close group of friends and my living situation made it difficult at first to feel settled. Unlike Syracuse, where routines and communities are more consistent, studying abroad meant constantly meeting new people while everyone traveled on different schedules. I also noticed that many students prioritized visiting as many countries as possible, while I found myself wanting to slow down and fully experience the culture of each place. This pushed me outside of my comfort zone and forced me to become more independent and intentional about how I spent my time. In the end, this challenge became one of the most impactful parts of my experience.
This experience contributed to both my personal and professional growth by strengthening my independence, adaptability and ability to connect with new people in unfamiliar environments. Academically, it pushed me to engage with subjects I would not normally choose, expanding my perspective and appreciation for history and culture. Living in Florence also gave me a greater appreciation for walkable cities, community-oriented spaces and the role culture plays in shaping environments, concepts that are highly relevant to my interest in real estate. Additionally, navigating new social and cultural settings helped me develop stronger interpersonal and communication skills. Overall, this experience helped me grow into a more well-rounded and globally aware individual.
While I do not have formal academic plans tied to this experience, I plan to return to Italy this summer and continue building on what I learned. I hope to use the Italian language skills I developed during my time abroad and further immerse myself in the culture. This experience also encouraged me to continue seeking out opportunities that push me outside of my comfort zone. Moving forward, I want to carry this mindset into both my academic and professional life. It reinforced the value of learning through experience rather than just in the classroom.
Receiving funding from the Honors Program allowed me to fully embrace my study abroad experience. The support gave me the ability to travel within Italy, visit historical sites such as churches and museums, and explore cities like Rome, Milan and Venice that deepened my understanding of the country’s culture and history. These experiences were essential in connecting what I learned in the classroom to real-world environments. The funding also allowed me to focus more on learning and immersing myself in the experience rather than worrying about financial limitations. Overall, it made my experience more meaningful and impactful.
Studying abroad in Florence was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my college career. While it pushed me out of my comfort zone socially and academically, it also helped me grow in confidence, independence and self-awareness. I learned the importance of being intentional with my time, choosing meaningful experiences over simply “checking boxes.” This experience gave me a deeper appreciation for different cultures and ways of living. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and for the support from the Honors Program that made it possible.
