My Life is a Movie – What it’s like to study Cinema in Italy
Put 22 film majors in Italy, and we will do it for the plot. My study abroad journey to Italy was the best decision I made of my college career. I chose to do this trip the summer after my senior year because I wanted one last opportunity to study abroad during my undergraduate degree. My sophomore year I attended the Harry Potter Fan Studies Study Abroad program in London and Edinburg. This experience sparked a love for travel, and I felt my DePaul experience wouldn’t be complete without another study abroad experience. I already felt my time here was cut short due to my Freshman year being entirely online because of Covid. I couldn’t miss out on this opportunity too. So, I moved out of my college apartment and walked the stage for our commencement ceremony on Saturday morning and Monday afternoon I was flying to Rome! I knew that going nearly from commencement to abroad would help prepare me for my post-grad life. I was right. But, I underestimated just how much this trip would end up impacting my life.
After studying abroad on the Cinema Studies in Rome trip with Michael DeAngelis and Carolina Ciampaglia, I feel better prepared for a professional career in film and more creatively inspired than ever. I could absolutely write a tell-all novel on my incredible adventure of an experience, but in short: I loved it! I was granted the opportunity to travel on my own, learn from film professionals, eat incredible food, and make amazing new friends!
If you’re on the fence about applying for a study abroad trip or simply curious about the experience: I urge you to apply! I saw my 21 new friends learn something new each day and finish the trip as a more mature and grown up version of themselves. I even noticed a change in my professors after learning from their students and enjoying the trip that they worked so hard to curate for us.
As a now graduated student, I feel that this experience equipped me with the maturity, independence, and tools I need to be a successful professional in my career. I was given important advice from professionals including other young female filmmakers, that will stick with me through my work. I lived on my own in another continent away from my support system for over a month. I navigated a challenging language barrier. I made an entirely new community of other young creatives. I balanced my school work with traveling and a packed schedule of tours and sightseeing. All of these challenges felt easy and natural when I was having the time of my life.
For five weeks, my life felt like a movie. Maybe, one day I’ll write one about my experience in Italy. I feel more creative than ever after experiencing a place so rich with cinematic roots.
~Marina