My dad has always told me “Cliches are cliche because they are true.” What he meant by this is that things become common phrases because they are universally true. Good things come to those who wait is a cliche because patience is a virtue necessary for success. Beggars can’t be choosers is a cliche because everyone has to learn that you must take what you are dealt with gratitude. Among all the cliches I had heard in my life, one encroached on my mind the months before deciding to study in Italy. I kept hearing one phrase over and over again. Whether it was from friends, family, or strangers online- it was always the same five words. Studying abroad changed my life.
I had many pros and cons for studying abroad. Pro: new experiences. Con: missing my family. Pro: traveling across Europe. Con: I don’t know how trains work. Pro: meeting new people. Con: do I even like pizza that much? But no matter how many lists and diagrams I made I kept hearing my dad say “Cliches are cliche because they are true.” So despite my doubts and my fears, I decided to study abroad in Florence, Italy.





Although I was confident in my decision to study abroad, I still had moments of panic. The night before my flight to Rome I frantically walked around my neighborhood hoping the exercise would counteract my anxiety. It did not work. I tried listening to calming music to relax. That didn’t work either. What if I get lost in the airport and never even make it to orientation week? What if I get an awful case of food poisoning and don’t know how to contact a doctor? What if I get arrested for committing a crime I don’t know is illegal? I concocted dozens of highly unlikely scenarios and convinced myself they were all destined to happen. I finally worked myself up the point of not going. I was not going, I had decided. I was too scared. I would take a semester off and stay with my family until I felt brave enough to go. As I was going down the stairs to tell my mom I was staying home for another 3 months, I remembered a cliche. Never base a decision on fear. I knew then- I had to go.





The next day, three of my friends and I held hands during take-off and held our breath as we touched down in a new country. Our home for 3 months. During my time abroad I made beautiful friends, visited old places, saw iconic art, and never let fear get in the way of enjoying my experience.
Living in Italy taught me that tradition and innovation are both necessary to foster a thriving society. Florence runs on thousand-year-old buildings and high-speed trains. I also discovered that I have the ability to learn anything. I’ve always had a terrible sense of direction and an even worse understanding of public transportation, but through time and dedication, I knew the train stations like a local.
I will always hold the memories I made of studying abroad close to my heart. I will carry all the lessons I learned with me every day. The most important thing I took from studying abroad is that nothing is out of my reach. I never imagined I could be brave enough to live in a foreign country and enjoy it. I was certain my fears would taint my experience. Now I know that isn’t true and I am braver and more adventurous than I give myself credit for. Studying abroad has widened my worldview and given me more confidence in my day-to-day life.
Sometimes when I miss Italy, I think of an extra cliche quote, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” Goodbye Florence! I was lucky to have you!
Tori White (BA English) spent Fall 2024 studying abroad in Florence, Italy through ISEP. Maddie had the following to say about studying abroad, “You will never regret studying abroad you will only regret not studying abroad. If you are thinking about it do it!”
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