A Tale of Two Semesters: My Unforgettable Junior Year at UMass and Abroad in Italy

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My junior year at UMass was unlike any other, as I spent the first half of the year in Amherst and the second half in Italy. The academic year proved to be one of my favorites yet because of each enriching experience I was afforded, whether that be new and exciting courses, professional opportunities, or studying abroad for four months. 

Fall Semester

The fall 2023 semester was nothing short of amazing. I loved my coursework and was a teaching assistant for my favorite class, Abnormal Psychology with Dr. Richard Halgin. I also got more involved with campus organizations and joined the Massachusetts Daily Collegian as a Public Relations Assistant. In this position I assisted in the planning of internal and external events, marketing for the Collegian, and weekly tabling. I am thrilled to be rejoining the Collegian this coming year as the Head of Public Relations!

The editing team at the Massachusetts Daily Collegian

During the fall I also began my first full semester with the Honors College communications team. I have loved each and every second of this job, and it has taught me so much about the field of communications. Each of the opportunities has allowed me to explore my interests and passions and has guided me toward knowing what I want to do after graduation. If you have any interest at all in a campus club or organization I suggest that you take a leap of faith and test it out, you never know what may come of it! 

The Fall semester was also my first time living in my own house off-campus, which was a wonderful experience. I had spent the previous two years living and learning in the Honors dorms, and while it was sad to say goodbye, I was excited to adjust to living off-campus and learning how to cook and take care of my own college house. 

Me and my roommates on the porch of my first college house

The first semester of junior year was transformative for me and helped me focus on my post-grad aspirations. As a journalism student with a concentration in public relations, I was searching for related opportunities and found those both in the Honors College communications team and the Massachusetts Daily Collegian. Over the course of the semester, I learned so much about communications, social media marketing and professional writing skills, all of which I will use in my future endeavors. 

Spring Semester

The second semester, I spent in Florence, Italy which you may already know from my study abroad blog series. This experience was truly transformative for me not only as a student, but as a person as well. Moving to a new country and immersing myself into the culture expanded my world view which has only brought about positive changes. I spent those four months traveling to new parts of the world and engaging in unique ways of life, which is something I will forever cherish. 

The best part was that I wasn’t just learning in the classroom, but everywhere I went. In each new country, I learned something new about its language or culture, which are invaluable pieces of knowledge. For example, when I visited Barcelona I learned one of the official languages of the city is Catalan, when previously I had assumed it was Spanish. It was little moments like these that reminded me just how much knowledge I was picking up along the way. 

Overall, my junior year was a culmination of great experiences, ones that I will never forget. I am so grateful that UMass supports such great study abroad programs and makes the transition so seamless. As an Honors student I was initially worried about fulfilling my requirements but the honors program makes it incredibly doable to fulfill your credits while abroad. Because of the support from both UMass and CHC I was able to have the best junior year!