“The most important lesson I’ve learned about myself is that independence isn’t all that scary. Any challenges that I faced during my program, whether it was with navigating a new country, overcoming language barriers or dealing with difficult people, I worked my way to a solution no matter what. I’ve grown as a person in so many ways through this experience,” reflected Sydney Sullivan, a business major who participated in the Study Abroad for Deaf & Signers program this summer in Siena, Italy.
During this three-week direct enroll program, students gain knowledge of basic grammar and fundamental vocabulary of Italian Sign Language (LIS) for everyday topics as well as Italian Deaf culture and history.
“This experience inspired my career in a way I didn't expect. I had an incredible opportunity one night to sit down with a few licensed ASL interpreters and hear about their career process and experiences. This completely opened my eyes to the field and inspired me to look into pursuing interpreting as a potential career,” said Sullivan.
Students live in a guest house in Siena, located in the heart Italy's Tuscany region, allowing Sullivan the ability to explore surrounding areas and cultures.
“I believe it’s important to step outside your hometown and experience different cultures and perspectives. For me, going abroad was a chance to gain independence and, more importantly, to push myself out of my comfort zone, which is a goal I most definitely accomplished,” said Sullivan.
“I could probably list a hundred memorable moments from this trip, but my favorite has to be the close bonds I’ve made with some truly incredibly people. Although being on opposite sides of the country, I still feel so connected to the friends I made, which is a true blessing.”