Meet Lucy - SYA Italy 2026
Extracurriculars Abroad: This year I was involved in tutoring local Italian students in English, volunteering with the organization Centro Aperto for local underprivileged kids, a law program where we got to do case studies with a local law firm, and cooking classes!
Favorite SYA Class: My favorite class was Local Global Perspectives. This is a social sciences class where we got to learn about Italian as well as the whole world’s current political events. We got to have debates and presentations on interesting topics such as the mafia, the economy, and cultural differences.
Favorite Food in Italy: My favorite food was my host family’s potato pizza!
How did SYA impact your college search process?
SYA allowed me to meet people from across America and introduced me to so many amazing schools I had never even heard of! Living abroad also clarified a lot of what I look for in a school. I am now searching for schools with good study abroad programs and experiential learning rather than only traditional classroom instruction.
Do you have a favorite memory with your host family?
On the very first night I spent with my host family, they took me out to a pizza restaurant by my school. I was so nervous to meet everyone, especially holding a conversation with my host family with an almost non-existent Italian vocabulary. But the moment we sat down, it felt as if they had known me forever. I have three Italian host sisters, all around my age, and that familiar sibling dynamic made me feel immediately at home. Everyone was laughing and arguing, and even though I couldn’t understand much of what was being said, the energy was so warm and welcoming that it didn’t matter. I remember this night because they taught me one of the first Italian words I remember that night so clearly because they taught me one of the first Italian words I truly learned: pazzo, meaning “crazy.” Throughout dinner, they would turn to me and jokingly say that one of the others was “pazzo.” It quickly became one of the most commonly used words at our table, and even now, it always reminds me how quickly I was accepted into my pazza famiglia.
What did you learn abroad that surprised you?
Living abroad will truly make you learn so many things about yourself. It’s not always the easiest realization, but moving away from your whole community or backbone really gives you the opportunity to experience independence. I was surprised at how quickly I was able to adapt and create a whole new support system in a completely unfamiliar environment. Building relationships and trust even with the given language gap made me realize that even without my parents and friends from home, I am able to adapt far more than I ever expected.