Author: Brooke Scott | Major: Electrical Engineering | Semester: Summer 2024

Finding one of Sorrento’s giant lemons at a streetside shop
As I walked down the streets of Rome on the way to my new home, consumed by the colorful architecture and the melodic Italian chatter, I couldn’t help but reflect on the beauty of Italy. Simply walking the streets was one of my favorite things to do during my time in Italy. Whether choosing to walk home instead of taking the tram from campus, hunting for a bookstore in Florence, or browsing candy shops in Sorrento, there were so many wonderful experiences that came from simply exploring Italy through its scenic streets. Aside from the beautiful, colorful homes and shops, and the meaningful views, of the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Amalfi coast, or even the old prison where Paul and Peter were held, the people were what made the streets of Italy alive. From the shop owners imploring us to come in and try a taste of authentic Italian cooking, to the seagulls who had no fear of humans, the streets in Italy are so alive. I recall when, right outside of my apartment block’s gelato shop, some young girls convinced me to hopscotch through their sidewalk chalk drawing, or when, on a cliff overlooking the Amalfi coast, an older gentleman reminisced on an old Italian song that captured the beauty of the sea. The richness of the culture, which I was honored to experience, truly poured out from the people of Italy and their willingness to share their experiences with strangers, even strangers like me who had traveled there from so far away.
I think back to a few years ago, when I was in high school and the dream of studying abroad was only a tiny, distant hope for me, but one that I always intended to take advantage of. As I began college and my dream slowly became more and more realistic, I started to explore options for students in engineering. I soon found one in an area which could bring valuable experience, and one which a mentor recommended would be applicable to my work as an intern and beyond. The Engineering Economics course appealed to me because of its ability to help me develop a new skillset while also exposing me to an entirely new culture in Italy. While I assumed the program would be beneficial to me, I could never have imagined exactly how much incredible experience it would offer me. I not only broadened my economic skills while learning from an amazing professor, Dr. Tish Pohl, but I was also able to interact with the locals in Italy and explore many of its beautiful regions while having an amazing time taking it all in, my first time leaving the states. I was able to spend three weeks living in Rome and traveling to places like Florence, Sorrento, Orvieto, Tivoli, and more, while also utilizing the beautiful Rome Center campus to learn fundamental aspects of business and economic evaluation.
I came into the program expecting to learn about economics, but this program exceeded my expectations. I learned about evaluating investments in ways that I can now apply not only in a professional setting, but also in my personal life to my own investments. However, my learning did not stop there. I learned an incredible amount of history and culture from the tours we went on, including the design choices of Michaelangelo in places including the Sistine Chapel, the use of the largest stadiums in Italy, including the Colosseum and the Pompeiian Amphitheatre, and perhaps most glaringly, the incredible determination and brilliance of the architects and mathematicians of Rome, who were able to design a city not only efficiently but also beautifully in such a lasting way. An experience that stands out to me was our visit to the Villa d’Este in Tivoli, Italy. The beauty of the grand house, and the intricate ways in which all of its surrounding fountains operate and have remained in operation for several centuries, still astounds me and allows me to appreciate the palace all the more. Another experience was in Orvieto, where my class toured the underground man-made caves, where the residents expertly improvised to double their space when dealing with overcrowding. The innovation in many of the places I was able to explore not only surprises me but also encourages me to think outside of the box to find unique solutions in my own work.
I am incredibly grateful to have had such a unique opportunity to explore an entirely new place and culture, and I know that it would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the endless support of the University of Arkansas’ Honors College and the Stewart family. The Honors Stewart Fellowship is what allowed me to achieve my dream of exploring and studying abroad, and I could not be more honored to have been given this opportunity. I will carry the experience and knowledge I gained with me throughout my life and my career, endlessly grateful for the chance I was given to study abroad in a place as beautiful and rich as Italy.