02/20/2026
Hello, everyone! 🕰️ My name is Ava ( ) and I am a junior in the ITM (International Trade and Marketing) bachelors program. I am spending my Spring 2026 semester studying at the Lorenzo De Medici in Florence, Italy! My liberal arts program has allowed me to take classes that explore my many interests within their authentic Italian backgrounds. My coursework spans from Food and Wine Pairing, which allows me to cook and analyze tasting, to History of Italian Fashion, which is a lecture that explores iconic history within my field. I am taking a course that explores Italian Cinema and Literature, which is taught by an Italian author himself. I even get to explore Palaces of Florence in a class that provides important history and guided visits!
I have come on this journey with a very independent approach. I have five random roommates (many lovely girls), and even though I see fellow FIT students scattered throughout the small city, LdM is a large commune of students from many schools! This opportunity has allowed me to meet amazing people, and I can only look forward to the upcoming months. Many FIT students are familiar with how bewildering it can be moving to a place that is so different from what is familiar — this experience has reminded me of many emotions from my first couple of weeks in New York City. However, there is such a rich magic underneath the learning curve. Despite my first impressions of heavy rain and chilly nights, I can already guarantee that Florence is an enchanting place. I would recommend this experience to anyone! If you are a fellow student in Florence or a prospective student with questions, reach out to my personal account and let’s chat!
PS… I am a Reach The World traveler, which means I write articles for a K-12 school about time abroad and discuss my experiences with them virtually. If you want to read about some traveling details, my journey can be accessed by finding my name on the Reach The World homepage!
