Returning to Michigan after my study abroad experience, I felt an overwhelming gratitude for the people I met, the cultures I explored, and the revelations I discovered about my future career.

The program began with two weeks in Florence, Italy, where I lived with three amazing girls from Michigan State University. Our landlord, an elderly Italian woman, welcomed us warmly and spent nearly an hour chatting about her favorite markets, her perfume shop downtown, and her new kittens! That evening, we dined at her son’s restaurant, full of tradition and charm. It was there I first experienced Italy’s deeply relational culture. My roommates and I had an unforgettable first night in Italy.

After Florence, my program spent a week in London, England, where I witnessed the same emphasis on community. Pubs were full of professionals sharing conversations after work. Seeing coworkers connect outside the office inspired me to build similar relationships. I now plan to take intentional breaks from academics and spend more time hosting and connecting during my last year at MSU. Life is richer when lived slowly and in good company.

As a human biology major, I didn’t expect a math-focused program to influence my academic path, but I could not have made a more incorrect assumption. I learned how measurement, precision, and proportion shaped architecture and art long before calculus existed. As our professors revealed math in everyday life, I began connecting those concepts to dentistry. Whether drilling a filling or designing a crown, dentists work in millimeters that can greatly affect a patient’s well-being. Just as architects balance stone, dentists shape the delicate structure of a tooth. I also developed a deep appreciation for math’s role in art. Touring museums and observing the progression of two-dimensional pieces to rich, three-dimensional artwork gave me new insight into the spatial complexity of dental anatomy and the oral cavity.

Most importantly, my time abroad taught me the value of cultural sensitivity. Before arriving in Florence, I studied basic Italian in hopes of respectfully engaging with locals. My inspiration behind learning the language went far beyond communication. As guests in their home, their city, and their culture, I felt a responsibility to approach each interaction with humility, honoring their way of life rather than expecting them to adjust to ours. I will never forget the first café I visited, where I greeted the owner with a cheerful “buon giorno” and exchanged a few phrases. He lit up with surprise and encouragement, responding with a joyful “Ah Italiano!” That moment reminded me how meaningful even the smallest gestures can be when stepping into someone else’s world.

My study abroad journey was far more than a change of scenery and a fun trip. It showed me the beauty of relationships, the hidden aspects of various career fields, and the power of cross-cultural humility. I will carry this new perspective with me as I walk through the world around me with curiosity, empathy, and a sincere respect for every individual’s story.

Name: Joanna Collins
Status: Senior
Major: Human Biology
Hometown: Rochester Hills, Michigan
Program: Engineering the Modern World: How Mathematics Shaped History