Lauryn Watkins

     Each city we visited was incredible with history upon history and beautiful architecture and scenery. If I had to choose which city best captures the spirit of studying abroad, it would be Florence. Florence is full of beautiful pieces of history including the Duomo, the statue of David, and the Uffizi gallery just to name a few, while also offering that touristy and high energy feel as well. The city of Florence is not as fast paced as Rome, but not as quiet and reserved as Assisi or Siena. Florence is a very good balance with it not being too overwhelming or chaotic but also brings in a little fun. It is the perfect ratio of old to new which is also perfect for students. Florence was a favorite for most in our group from what I heard especially the leather market. The city also has amazing food which is a top concern for most students when studying abroad. Florence is inviting and student friendly, walkable which is nice, and full of endless opportunities to learn ...

     The phrase Living the Dolce Vita means "the sweet life". Luckily, I was able to firsthand experience this while abroad in Italy. This way of living really reshaped my view of life and how important it is to find balance and fulfillment in our daily lives. The way we live our lives in America is so rushed, but in Italy it is the complete opposite. No one is in a hurry, and they truly live in the present moment of a simple life. They often find joy in little things whereas we seem to care less. Studying abroad living the Dolce Vita was incredible. No rushed conversations, fully engaged in lectures, and simply walking through the beautiful city taking in every piece of scenery. This outlook and way of life really changed the way I want to continue to live my own life. I want to slow down and be fully present with the people around me. I want to enjoy living each day with no constant worry of tomorrow and live for the today. I hope I can find moments in my busyness for r...

     While studying abroad and being able to closely collaborate with my peers through this course my view on leadership slightly shifted. We all were not familiar with the cultural way of life nor the school life of the Italian students, so we had to rely on each other for each step along the way. While having to rely on each other more than we normally would, this revealed both our strengths and areas where we need improvement. Some better operate under more loud atmospheres than others, some prefer the spotlight while others do not, and some take charge while others sit back and observe. No way is wrong by no means; they are just different. I learned that my leadership style is a little more reserved for the most part, but I will speak up when necessary. Through the cross-cultural conference, I learned that there is beauty in imperfection. I get so caught up in wanting things done an exact way and most times that does not always end well when working in a group. The co...

     Prior to arriving in Italy for study abroad, I had a lot of goals and expectations. I wanted to maintain an open mind, be curious, participate, and make more relationships with peers and instructors. I think my expectations were far exceeded and I made the best memories that will last a lifetime. My one hope is that the relationships I have made on this trip stay steady and we can continue to be close once we get back home. This was one of the best experiences I have ever had, and I knew that before I even left that it would be.       This experience was simply life changing and exceeded all of my goals and expectations. I made so many new friends and deepened my friendships with others. Honestly, I was not expecting to connect with everyone as quickly as we did, but it made it that much more special and now I am sad to leave everyone. I think another thing that was exceeded was my expectations of others. Everyone was so kind, inclusive, and atten...

     Leadership is much more than leading others; it is about the legacy and stories we leave behind. I hope to create a legacy of dedication, empathy, integrity, and courage. I want others to remember me as someone who is kind to all, strives to do what is right despite what the crowd is doing, and wants to see others succeed. As a leader we should focus on building those around us up instead of bringing them down. My hope is that everyone sees these aspects about me now and continues to see after I am gone.      There are many good parts of leadership we can see in the Roman leaders, but also things we can learn from so we do not repeat things they did that we do not agree with. Julius Caesar for example let his power take control over the way he led. I do not want to lead this way, but I can learn for his story that power can bring people together but also tear them apart. This is one thing I love about leadership. We can learn from others while also cre...

     St. Francis was a very influential and inspiring leader with servant heart values at the forefront of his life. Specific parts of his life that can have an impact on today's society would be giving up his wealth and earthly goods up so that he could serve those less fortunate. St. Francis cared for the sick and those who were pushed aside as outsiders and made them feel seen. Much of his life resembled Jesus in the way he cared for others such as caring for the lepers. His life is a demonstration of what we can all strive to be more like such as caring for others and not being worried about how we can personally benefit from it.     Servant leadership to me means that you put other people's needs above your own.  As a servant leader you value service above status, being kind to all, and listen more than speak. A modern-day example of this that I see in my own life is the way my mom cares for me. She always goes above and beyond to make sure that I...

     Florence is full of beautiful architecture and history. Honestly, so far at least, I would say my favorite city we have visited has been Florence. I love the busier feel it has than Arezzo, but also the good chunk of history and other beautiful things to see. Each artwork was so powerful, but I think my favorite one to see was the David statue and also the other unfinished pieces that surrounded it. These pieces showed the hard work and grit that Michelangelo put into each of his pieces making sure they were beautiful while also depicting a significant moment in history that would touch the audience. Overall, e verything in Florence was just breathtaking and amazing to see.       Each museum we went to was so amazing and special from the Duomo to the Uffizi gallery. The Duomo was so beautifully detailed from wall to wall and was so worth the climb to get to the top. The top of the dome depicting hell was touching and really tugged at my heart whic...

     The leadership conference has been one of my favorite parts of this experience, because I met so many new faces and had an amazing time while doing so. Coming into this experience it can be a little nerve wracking because of the language barrier, but I honestly feel like I have thrived in that aspect while being here. Just last year I was given an opportunity similar to this but in Japan. I was able to host a Japanese student at my house and then stay with a student over there as well. I honestly love it and getting to hear about the different cultures and what they do during their daily lives because I find it so interesting. It is so impactful to see and hear from people from different walks of life and helps me personally to see things through a new lens.       After attending the leadership conference the bonds, I created with the Italian students were deeper than surface level which is amazing how we can create friendships in such a short amo...

     PCS has been an amazing way for me to grow in my leadership. I have been given opportunity after opportunity to grow and push myself to become the best leader that I can be. This trip specifically has broadened my leadership qualities and helped me to step out of my comfort zone. Being part of the MarCom committee for the conference and conversing with Italian students within my small group have been just a couple of ways my leadership has been able to grow while here. Through reflecting on myself this trip I have realized that I can often be a silent leader, but I will step or speak up when it is needed. I do not see this as a bad thing, but as we go forward with the rest of the trip, I hope I can learn to not try to be so behind the scenes when it comes to group decisions and leadership as a whole.       I totally agree that the decisions we make will reflect the type of person we are. I always try to strive to do what is right and when I feel t...

     After visiting the winery I learned so many new things and had such a fun time while doing so. 3 takeaways that I learned are that the skin of the grape determines the color of the wine, when drinking wine you can check the color by slightly tipping the glass onto a napkin, and that the wood affects the taste.       One major difference between wine in the Italian culture that differs from the American one is that wine consumption is more casual in Italian culture. Wine is usually had with most meals and in America we tend to overindulge and not think about it being a time to gather with friends and family.       Something that I observed while making pasta with my peers was that some people are naturally better at cooking things than others and that is okay because I am definitely one of the ones that struggled. This type of leadership is helpful in situations you are learning because it helps you fully understand the process ...

     According to the Enneagram test I identified best with the number 1. This enneagram number states that the person is a perfectionist and has self-discipline. The person likes order and loves to see improvement within themselves and others. I think this totally describes me because I have always been labeled as a perfectionist and now that I have been told it a fair number of times, I realize that I do in fact like things to be done a certain way and when anything shy's away from this I see it as a con. I also love to see people succeed and I love to achieve this success as well because it makes me feel accomplished.       Next, according to the Donald Clifton 2.0 strength assessment my top five strengths are as follows, harmony, responsibility, consistency, belief, and discipline. 4 out of my 5 strengths were in the execution category with the other being in the relationship building category. I most definitely agree with the results from this tes...

     Since we have been in Italy, I have noticed many beautiful and interesting parts of the city. I have noticed the large amounts of art and history, small roads that allow cars to get pretty close to those walking near, everything is pretty much within walking distance, and the stunning scenery that you just can't miss.       Arezzo has had a pretty significant impact on the historical aspect because it was one of the first cities besides Rome to be Christian, the location is pretty centered in Italy which made it very popular for trading, and the deep connection with art has also made an impact as a whole, highlighting major uniqueness and culture behind Italy as a whole.       One encounter that has made me realize that I am no longer in Italy has definitely been the language barrier. When trying to converse with Italians it is quite hard for me to understand them and them to understand me. This adjustment from being at home an...

       As I prepare to start on this immersive experience abroad in Italy, I am feeling nervous, curious, but most of all excited. I am so excited to learn about a new culture and meet people from a different country. This experience is going to be one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had, and I hope to take it all in as much as I can.       While packing for this trip I made sure to pack the essentials, but I also packed something I treasure, my Bible. I read the scripture Psalms 121:8 and prayed for safety throughout the entire trip while packing all of my things. I also made sure to pack my Strengths Finder book and a notebook so that I can be sure to take notes on everything I am learning and refer back to my strengths and how I can best use them while abroad. I hope that through this experience I am able to learn more about myself and what I may be lacking in terms of how I interact with others and handle new experiences.  ...