AMHS Scholarship Awards

AMHS Scholarship Application Essay
by Catherine Currano

I was sixteen years old when I stepped onto an airplane for the first time in my life, and set off for the beautiful city of Rome. This was the first time I would be going anywhere further from home than Canada. Even more importantly, was the first time I would encounter an entire population who spoke, thought, and behaved in ways that were vastly different from my own.

Before embarking on this trip, the entirety of my knowledge of Italian culture was secondhand, drawn from stories and popular stereotypes. Although my father is a third generation Italian-American, and grew up in a neighborhood full of Italian immigrants, somewhere along the line all but the most superficial and unimportant characteristics of our Italian heritage were lost among contemporary American ways. I recall walking off the plane into what appeared to be a completely different world. I was overwhelmed by the chatter of the foreign tongue that enveloped me, and I was helpless to answer a woman who approached speaking the then unfamiliar Italian language. Only after pointing at my watch did I realize that she was asking me for the time. However, even my watch betrayed how very American I was, for it still read a time that was six hours behind that of Italy.

In spite of the initial culture shock, shortly after my arrival, I found myself marveling at the beauty, vitality, and warmth that I encountered in the city of Rome. I was dazzled by the gorgeous churches tucked away on little side streets, and the ancient buildings and architecture that to this day line the streets of the city making their home beside modem inventions like gas stations and traffic lights. I was enchanted by the general cheerful atmosphere of the Italian city, the friendliness and vivacity of the people, who seemed to be ready to welcome every newcomer and strike up a conversation with any stranger that passed by. Above all else, I was fascinated by the language with which the people communicated. I quickly fell in love with the gracefulness and charming liveliness of Italian, and I immediately decided to study it, so that one day I might speak it myself.

Soon after I began to uncover some of the wonders of the Italian culture, I found myself in the airport once again, boarding a second airplane to make the trip back home to the United States. Nevertheless, I did not return home exactly as I had left; in that short stay the magic of Italy had drawn me in, and it began to drive me to learn more about that intriguing land.

I began my study of the Italian language and culture upon entering the University of Maryland. In my first semester, I enrolled in an accelerated introductory Italian class, and I have since progressed to the intermediate level. In my sophomore year I lived in the Italian language house with seven other girls, with whom I practiced my Italian daily, and participated in weekly meetings and activities focused on learning about Italian culture. I have learned an incredible amount from my classes and my experience in the Italian language cluster. However, since my first year of college I have dreamt of studying abroad in Italy. I believe that by combining my studies with complete immersion in the Italian language and culture in my daily life, I will have the opportunity to learn infinitely more than would be possible by merely taking Italian classes at the University of Maryland. Thus, during the past year I have looked into various study abroad programs in Italy, but the recommendation of one of my Italian professors induced me to investigate the University of Siena for Foreigners.

After much consideration I came to the conclusion that this program is the best choice for me: it would provide me with a good education in Italian language and culture without the extreme expense that most of the study abroad programs entail. Nevertheless, money remains a possible obstacle to prevent me from realizing my dream of studying in Italy, and therefore at this point I am still unsure that I will be able to make the trip. Thus, the receipt of this scholarship would provide the ideal solution to my dilemma, by providing me with the necessary financial assistance to make a semester in Italy possible. Such an opportunity is essential for me to gain the maximal amount of knowledge and understanding of the Italian language, culture, and way of life.