For spring break this year, I had the opportunity to go to Rome and Florence, Italy while studying gender and leadership. When we arrived in Rome, I was immediately in awe of the architecture surrounding me. The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica was visible above the buildings, and ornate bridges with beautifully carved statues were all I could look at. It was astonishing to me that the Italians who live in Rome get to walk past these works of art daily and think nothing of it.

Our program started with a day trip to Tivoli, where we visited Hadrian’s villa, Villa d’Este, and Villa Gregoriana. These villas gave us a look back into the past at the lavish lifestyles of the emperors. With one of the areas of study for this program being leadership, this correlated with how Italian’s viewed their leaders, and the importance and status the emperors during their ruling.

We got to go into the Vatican City and tour the Vatican Museums, which offered a lot of insight into the importance of the Roman Catholic church, as well as the role of women in the church through how they were depicted through elaborate paintings.

Our trips to Palatine Hill, the Forum, and the Colosseum offered insight into how men were expected to behave, especially in terms of gladiators. The size of the Colosseum was breathtaking, and it was awe inspiring to think about the number of people who would have been inside to watch the gladiator fights.

Our time in Florence was just as enlightening, and we were greeted with a view of the Duomo in the very heart of Florence. Here, we learned about the magnificent painters and sculptors crucial to the history of Italy, such as Michelangelo and Da Vinci. Our trip closed out with a tour of the fashion district in Florence, accompanied by a guest lecturer who taught us how to dress like a leader and how to dress for success.

Overall, this program was very beneficial to my learning and academic journey. The blend of being in a different culture surrounded by magnificent sights and attending lectures was perfect. It allowed me to take what we were learning about in class and apply it to the things I saw around me in Italy, depicted in art, architecture, and the people.

On a personal level, this program allowed me to think about my own gender and how it may affect my leadership positions in the future, especially going into a male-dominated field such as criminal justice. There is no denying that there are gender disparities within our society, and this program helped bring them to light, as well as ways that we can address these differences and understand them.

I am a student from a lower income family, but this has been my third study abroad I’ve gone on with MSU. A lot of students may really want to study abroad but are worried about the costs, but I can say from experience that there are a ton of scholarships available to help with the financial side of the program.

The programs that I have been on have given me invaluable experiences, and I would recommend everyone to study abroad at least once, especially if there is a program offered in a country you really wish to travel to, and the area of study is something you are interested in. Studying abroad can seem intimidating and scary, especially if it is your first time out of the country, but MSU always makes sure you are well prepared to travel, and they make everything as stress free and organized as possible. I cannot recommend studying abroad enough, and you will make friends and memories that will last a lifetime.

Name: Robin Petelin
Status: Junior
Major: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Summerfield, Ohio
Program: Gender Roles and Leadership in College in Italy