Meet Study Abroad Student Hayley Nowak
Born and raised in Rockford, Michigan, Hayley Nowak is currently studying abroad at JCU. Hayley is a senior at American University, Washington DC, where she is part of the 3-year Politics, Policy, and Law Scholars program. Hayley is also doing a for-credit internship at the Guarini Institute for Public Affairs.
How did you decide to study abroad in Rome? What was your best experience while studying in Italy, so far?
I am fortunate to attend a university that has a very good study abroad program. Most students at American University study abroad at some point in their academic career, so I always knew it was something that I wanted to do. This also meant that there were many options of where I could study abroad. After filtering through the programs based on my major and language requirements, I narrowed down my selection, but still had a lot of great options. I ended up choosing Rome because I’ve always wanted to go to Italy, and I could see myself loving it. Since Rome is a big city, I knew that I would never run out of things to do or get bored. I also knew that it would make traveling on weekends a lot easier being close to larger international airports and many big train stations. I had some friends who studied at John Cabot the semester before me who loved it, so that also factored into my decision-making.
So far, the best experience I’ve had has been learning about new cultures. Since I got here, I have tried my best to really immerse myself in the culture. In doing so, I have been able to gain so much more from my time in Rome. I have been forced to get out of my comfort zone and experience new things, which has made me a more well-rounded and stronger person.
Why did you decide to pursue an internship through JCU? What does it entail?
I wanted to pursue an internship through JCU to get the most out of my study abroad experience. Having an internship here allows me to get a taste of what it is like working outside of the United States. It forces me to become more immersed in Italian culture and allows me to have a more unique and enriching study abroad experience. I don’t know where I want to live/work when I graduate, so having an internship here has allowed me to experience what it would be like if I didn’t stay in the U.S.
I really enjoy my internship. I complete most of my work remotely, but also spend enough time in person to create good relationships with the people I am working with. I carry out a variety of tasks for my internship, including sending emails, creating posters, attending events, and writing about them. My working hours are flexible around my class schedule, and I haven’t had a problem managing my internship work on top of my schoolwork and traveling.
What did you learn about yourself from your time abroad? How did this experience enrich you?
So far, I have learned a lot about myself from my time abroad. I have come to realize how independent I can be. I thought that I was independent when I moved to a different state for college, but that is nothing compared to moving to a different country on a different continent for four months. It forces you to get out of your comfort zone and become very independent very quickly. Studying abroad has also helped me realize that there is so much more out there in the world to see and experience.
What advice would you give to students who are hesitant about studying abroad?
My advice to students who are hesitant about studying abroad would be to just do it! Out of everyone I have met at JCU so far, nobody has told me that they regret coming. I am so incredibly thankful that I chose to do this for myself, and I know that I would have regretted it if I didn’t. If you are hesitant out of fear, the only way to make that fear go away is to face it, and it’s a lot less scary than it seems. I have met some amazing people who are in the exact same boat as I am.
What are your plans for the future?
If you asked me this question two months ago, I would have told you that I’m graduating in May, and then taking a gap year to work before applying to and attending law school. From there, I would have said that I wanted to practice law in the human/civil rights area and that my end goal was to be a federal judge in the U.S. Now, I’m not sure. After only being in Italy for a month, I have fallen in love with the country. I’m not sure where I want to live and what my future career will look like. I have a deep passion and love for the law, so I hope to work within that sector, but I don’t know where that will be. Luckily, I have time to figure it out!
