From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Angelica Scotto is a Freshman at Temple University Rome, majoring in Global Studies. She is currently participating in the Temple Rome Entry Year Program where she will complete the first year of her studies here in Rome, and then finish her degree and graduate at Temple’s Main Campus in Philadelphia.

Angelica, being part Italian, decided to come to Italy for her Freshman year of college to explore her identity while taking advantage of living and studying in the Eternal City.

Q & A

Q: Why did you choose to participate in the Temple Rome Entry Year Program?

The reason I chose to participate in the Temple Rome Entry Year program is because I am part Italian, and wanted to use this experience to learn more about the different aspects of my identity and explore as much as I can.

Q: What are some things you’ve done here in Rome that you might not have been able to do your first year in Philadelphia?

There are a number of things that I am able to do in Italy that I would not be able to do in Philadelphia, one being constantly discovering new parts of the Eternal City and learning about the history behind these ancient ruins. Another thing I can do that I don’t usually do in Philadelphia, is go out into bars and parks, and meeting people from all over the world.

Q: What’s your favorite class this semester?

My favorite class is Sustainable Environments. The reason I like this class is because the professor uses a more engaging approach while teaching. I also feel as though the information we are learning about is currently very talked about in the media and it is important to know about the world’s current condition. We discuss different solutions that could help save the earth’s condition and how we can actually apply them to real life scenarios.

Q: What’s your favorite thing that you’ve done in Rome so far?

I’ve been to Rome dozens of times, but walking through Piazza del Popolo has always and will always continue to take my breath away. There is something about that Piazza that makes me forget all my worries and just live in the moment. It’s so vast and there is such a beautiful clear view of the sky and being there at sunset is my absolute favorite time of day.

Q: What do you look forward to when going to Main Campus in Philadelphia?

Since I’ve been going to small schools my whole life, I’ll be quite excited to attend a school with more than 500 people. I am also happy because I will finally be living on my own and independent.

Q: How do you think this experience in the Rome Entry Year Program will affect you moving forward?

Temple Rome has taught me to become more independent. In such a short amount of time (4 months) I’ve learned how to do things without asking for help. I have learned how to manage my stress through specific approaches I have seen peers do, and advice from my instructors. Going forward, I think I will also have a better cultural understanding of Rome and Italy as a whole. Although I have much growth left to do, I am grateful for this incredible opportunity.