I will be forever grateful for the opportunities that SAI has so kindly given me. The scholarship that I received greatly contributed to the chance of me being able to spend the past spring semester in Florence, Italy. The experience that I had while abroad was by far the best experience I have ever had. I will admit, my expectations were high regarding my time abroad and I was not disappointed in the least. In fact, the city I lived in, education I received, and people I met went above and beyond my expectations.

I was so pleased with the knowledge my teachers had regarding the subjects they were teaching. They never failed to answer my questions or prove to me that they wanted me to succeed. The friends that I made during the past 4 months are so special, and I have no doubt in my mind that I will keep in close touch with them for the rest of my life. The memories and connection that I have with Florence, will impact every decision that I make from here on out. Most of all, I am certain that myself as a person has grown into a mature, cultured, and independent woman. I know it is a cliché to say that going abroad allows you to find yourself, but I am 100% sure that my experience abroad has done exactly that.  My experience abroad has made me realize who I want to be, what I want to do, and where I want to go in life and that alone is the greatest thing someone can ask for. I thank SAI for giving me the opportunity to study in Florence, Italy and experience things that I never thought possible.

– Jennifer, Colorado State University