This semester, I am taking five classes and completing an internship, so my schedule keeps me pretty busy! From learning about Italian preschool education to studying fashion in Rome, my academic experience has been a mix of things I expected and a few surprises. Let me tell you what my classes look like and what I’ve been learning along the way.

One of the classes I was most excited about was Child Development: Italian Best Practices in Preschool Education. I’ve always been fascinated by the Reggio Emilia method and the Montessori approach because they show us that education doesn’t always have to follow one traditional path. There are different ways to teach and learn, and I wanted to understand these approaches beyond what I could learn in a classroom at Colby.

What makes this class so special is that we don’t just read about Montessori and Reggio Emilia or discuss them during lectures. We actually get to visit schools and see how these approaches work in real life! It’s incredible to see the ideas from my book come to life. Next week, I will visit the Centro Internazionale Montessori in Perugia, Italy, which I am especially excited about.

And speaking of getting out of the classroom, field studies have honestly become one of my favorite parts of studying with IES. I love that learning it’s not only in the classroom. In Cross-Cultural Psychology, for example, we get to visit a center that supports young immigrants and learn more about its work. It is a different way of understanding how culture and people’s experiences can shape their development and opportunities.

My Italian class has a slightly different approach to learning outside the classroom. We had an outing planned where we could practice ordering gelato in Italian. Unfortunately, I was sick and missed it, so I guess I’ll have to practice my gelato-ordering skills another day! Learning a language while living in the country is such a cool opportunity, even if I’m still figuring things out.

Another class that takes learning beyond lectures is my Social Action Seminar, which includes an internship as part of the course. I am working as an English teacher’s assistant at a high school in Rome. I’m gaining experience preparing and giving lectures, supporting students in their English classes, and observing how the Italian education system works. It’s one thing to learn about education in a textbook, but it’s another to actually be in a classroom and see how teachers and students interact.

But wait, because education isn’t the only thing on my schedule this semester. Plot twist: I’m also taking Introduction to Fashion Styling and Communication!

IES offers this special opportunity in collaboration with Accademia di Costume e Moda, one of Italy’s leading fashion institutions. And honestly, this class has a little personal history behind it. Growing up, I dreamed of working in fashion. Eventually, I moved on from that dream, but the interest never completely disappeared. When I saw the opportunity to take a hands-on fashion course in Rome, I thought, why not? When else would I get the chance to study fashion in Italy? Next week, I have an editorial photoshoot for this class, and I’m excited to see how it turns out. It’s definitely a different experience from my education courses, but that’s exactly why I wanted to try it. Studying abroad gives you the chance to explore things you might not normally have room for in your regular schedule.

Now, you might be wondering how all these classes fit together, especially since I came to Rome through a program focused on early childhood education. Well, they actually connect to my academic path in different ways.

As an Education and Latin American Studies double major at Colby, I want to work with immigrant children and help them access a quality education, especially as they navigate a new country and educational system. My Child Development and Cross-Cultural Psychology classes allow me to explore questions that matter to me: How can different educational approaches support children’s needs? How does culture shape their experiences? And how can schools make the transition into a new educational system easier for immigrant students? My internship also gives me the opportunity to connect what I learn in class with real classroom experiences. Together, these courses and my internship are helping me think about who and what I want to be. I am also staying on track academically at Colby, with Child Development counting toward an Education elective and Cross-Cultural Psychology counting as an elective outside my department.

At the same time, I wanted this semester to be about more than just completing requirements for my majors. This year, I planned to participate in two study abroad programs while still having the opportunity to do JanPlan at Colby. Since my second program starts in February, Rome was a great fit for the fall semester. And honestly, getting to experience Rome in the fall made the decision even easier. The city is beautiful!

My biggest recommendation? Take classes that help you make progress toward your major, but don’t be afraid to leave room for something unexpected. You might discover a new interest, revisit an old dream, or learn something about yourself that you weren’t expecting. I came to Rome because I wanted to learn more about early childhood education, but I’m getting that and so much more. Between school visits, my internship, learning Italian, and exploring fashion, this semester has reminded me that you don’t have to limit yourself to one path. So, be like Barbie and be anything you want! 

Alla prossima, Mules!

-XOXO Monse