Author: Camile Valot | Major: Accounting | Semester: Summer 2025
Reading with a view — Emma Wooming and I overlooking the stunning Santorini skyline during a peaceful afternoon in Greece. One of those moments that didn’t need a filter or a plan.
Studying abroad had always been on my radar, but I didn’t expect to do it so early in my college career. When I learned about the University of Arkansas’s Rome Center Sophomore Business Experience, it felt like the perfect blend of timing, academics, and adventure. I’d always been curious about Italian culture, and being able to live and learn in Rome, rather than just visit for a week or two, felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I spent the entire spring semester of 2025 in Rome, and it completely shifted how I view the world, my education, and my goals.
Academically, the program offered business students the chance to take core courses like ‘Intro to Finance’ and ‘Intro to Marketing’ while also immersing themselves in the richness of Italian culture through courses like ‘Italian I’ and ‘Art History’. Taking these classes in Rome added so much more meaning to what I was learning. For example, in my art history course, we didn’t just study slides in a lecture hall—we stood in front of the pieces in real time. We saw sculptures, paintings, and buildings in person, giving depth to what would otherwise be abstract ideas in a textbook.
In addition to my coursework, I had the opportunity to intern with OSC Innovation, a marketing and tech company based in Rome. I worked on their lead generation team, identifying potential English-speaking companies they could partner with and organizing the information into Excel reports. It gave me real-world experience in international business and showed me how companies think globally, something that felt especially relevant as an accounting major with international career goals. Balancing schoolwork and an internship abroad wasn’t always easy, but it made my experience incredibly rewarding.
Outside the classroom, life in Rome was just as educational. I learned how to navigate a foreign country, communicate across language barriers, and adapt to a different pace of life. Some of my favorite memories include simple things: going to local cafes after class, walking home through cobblestone streets with friends, and taking weekend trips to places like Florence, Pompeii, and even Budapest. One of the most meaningful experiences was a spontaneous day trip to Viterbo, a medieval town north of Rome known for its quiet charm and historic Papal Palace. A few of us decided to go on a whim, curious about what lay beyond the typical tourist path. Wandering through cobblestone streets and standing in the very hall where popes once convened was surreal. It wasn’t part of any class or assignment, but that day reminded me how much history exists just outside the classroom, and how rewarding it is to take time to explore it for yourself.
The experience also differed greatly from life on campus at the University of Arkansas. In Fayetteville, I’m used to having a familiar routine, easy access to campus resources, and being surrounded by people I know. In Rome, every day felt new. That excitement was sometimes challenging. Whether it was navigating public transportation, missing home, or adjusting to different class structures, it taught me to be flexible and independent. Over time, those challenges became growth points. I learned to advocate for myself, manage my time across multiple time zones, and stay open to experiences that didn’t always go as planned.
One of the biggest lessons I’ll carry with me is the importance of slowing down. In the U.S., especially in business school, there’s a constant pressure to move fast, plan, and keep working toward the next thing. In Italy, there’s more value placed on being present, like sharing a long meal, taking a scenic route, or simply enjoying a moment for what it is. That mindset shift helped me reflect not just on how I want to approach school, but how I want to approach life.
To anyone considering studying abroad, my advice is simple: do it. It’s okay to feel unsure or intimidated; it means you’re about to do something meaningful. Go into it with curiosity, not expectations. Be open to discomfort, because that’s where a lot of the learning happens. Pack lighter than you think you need to, and say yes to as many new experiences as you can. The semester I spent in Rome gave me memories I’ll hold onto forever, but more importantly, it gave me a broader perspective and a stronger sense of self.