Logan May '11
When I started at Walsh University in the fall of 2007, I expected a traditional college experience. I planned on staying put in Canton, Ohio, attending school in a classroom, and taking classes in the fall and spring. What I didn't expect was to get caught up in the expanding Global Learning Department at Walsh!
I first learned about the idea of studying abroad as a freshman when a good friend of mine was going to pack up and head to Castel Gandolfo for eight weeks for her spring semester. I thought she was crazy, but what fascinated me was the history behind Castel Gandolfo and its connections with Walsh. It wasn't just a hotel or a hostel; it was a part of our Walsh Heritage.
The very next summer I jumped on the chance to study abroad and take part in the Rome Experience. In my particular class, we studied the museums of Rome and Paris. Our two-week trip abroad was filled with so many adventures I never thought I would get to experience as a college sophomore. The program gave me the opportunity to see Vatican City, historic landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Colosseum, as well as see firsthand famous artworks such as the Mona Lisa and The Birth of Venus. It was amazing to see things I'd only read about in textbooks, seen in movies, or heard about in class at the main campus. I learned so much from that class because I could touch it, see it, and experience it. To date it was one of the best experiences of my life.
There was something about Castel Gandolfo and the Rome Experience through Walsh that changed me. When I returned, I felt different. All I wanted to do was see the world and take in all it had to offer.