Student spotlight: Gianna’s Italian chapter

In this interview, we talk with Gianna, one of our students from Michigan. Having just graduated from college with a degree in graphic design and marketing, Gianna found herself at a crossroads. She, however, was looking for clarity rather than a traditional corporate path, and decided to leave for a deep dive into Italian culture, splitting her time between the history of Rome and the energy of Milan.

Hi Gianna, let’s go back to the beginning. Why did you decide to do a gap experience, and why now?

When I graduated, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do next. Unfortunately, I realized a little late in my college career that I wasn’t as passionate about my studies as I thought I was. That made me hesitate. Most of my friends started getting long-term jobs right after graduation (as it’s expected) but I didn’t feel like that was the right next step for me.

I had studied abroad in Italy for three weeks during college and I just kept thinking about how I could get back. That’s how I found Italianforawhile. It felt like the perfect opportunity to hit pause and figure things out!

You chose to split your time between Rome and Milan. Why did you decide to do both?

I decided early on that I wanted to see new things and places. I had been to Florence and Venice before, so this time I opted to spend five months in Rome and one month in Milan.

Rome is the perfect center point for traveling to other areas of Italy, which was one of my main goals, and I was interested in Milan because it’s a fashion and business capital. With my design background, I wanted to see if I could rediscover a passion for it or, at least, experience different things that align with my interests.

You mentioned feeling uncertain about your career path before you left. Did this time away help provide that clarity?

Definitely. My biggest goal was to learn, reflect, and think about what I wanted for the next chapter of my life. Professionally, I wanted to figure out what I am passionate about. Especially since I focused on one path for four whole years. And while I’m still navigating the very next steps, I feel so much more grounded. I learned how to challenge myself in a new environment, discovered a lot about myself, and realized it’s okay not to follow the traditional timeline.

What was your biggest worry when you first arrived?

Honestly, I was a little nervous about feeling homesick. When I first went to college, I was only two hours away from home and it still took time to adjust, and Italy is a lot more far away from home. I was also worried about the language barrier during the very first month. Handling basic, everyday tasks (the ones I’m used to doing in English) in Italian felt scary but it was a huge learning experience.

You stayed with a host in Rome, which is quite different from an apartment stay. How did that impact your experience?

It was a huge help. My host was a lovely Italian lady who spoke very little English, and that forced me to practice my Italian every single day in a real-life setting. Chatting with her became a part of my daily routine. It definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it also made the experience feel much more authentic!

What is the biggest takeaway you hope people get from your story?

I want people in my shoes to realize that it’s okay not to jump into a traditional job immediately after college. It’s fine to realize that the path you chose, what you studied, is not what you really want to do. I myself have spent a lot of my life doing things because I thought others expected me to. This was the very first time I made a decision that felt right for my own journey, even if it wasn’t the “norm.”

It’s never too late to rewrite your own script!