“Through this experience, I have learned the importance of stepping outside of my comfort zone. Living in a country I had never been to and navigating a language barrier was an adjustment, but it has been incredibly rewarding,” reflected Pauleth Jaramillo, an international business major who is currently abroad on the Fisher College of Business Undergraduate Exchange - Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi program.
For the duration of the spring semester, Jaramillo will be living and studying in Milan, where she will get to be fully immersed in a new culture and be a part of a new academic and social environment.
“The courses at Bocconi University set you up for success from day one. Professors bring in professionals from a variety of industries to help students network and gain insight into different career paths,” said Jaramillo. “They also assign hands-on, real-world projects that allow us to apply what we are learning in meaningful and practical ways.”
Both inside the classroom and out in the town, Jaramillo is adjusting to life in a new country, and will continue to make the most of her time in Milan.
“The biggest change has been adjusting to the slower, more relaxed pace of life in Italy. Coming from the fast-paced, always “on the go” culture of the United States, it took some time to embrace slowing down, but it’s taught me to be more present and truly enjoy the little moments,” she noted.