Making Every Moment Matter with Student Vittoria Caroli 

Vittoria Caroli is a junior at JCU majoring in International Affairs with a minor in Communications. She is the webmaster for the student-run newspaper, The Matthew, and the captain of the JCU tennis team. With the hopes of one day becoming a journalist, Vittoria continues to find opportunities in every aspect of her life and appreciate every experience.

Tell us about yourself.
I am from Martina Franca, a small town in Puglia in southern Italy. For my fourth year of high school, I went abroad to Cape Town, South Africa, which has been one of my best experiences. I grew up taking dance classes and playing sports, such as volleyball, krav maga, and tennis. I am currently the captain of the tennis team at JCU. I love reading news about the world, which is exactly why I want to become a journalist. I want to be the one sharing the news with others.

Vittoria Caroli
Vittoria Caroli

Tell us about your time in South Africa.
My time in South Africa was my turning point. It was the time in my life that changed me and made me the person I am now. I met wonderful people there, like my host family, whom I still talk to. Last summer, they came to Italy and stayed with me for two weeks. It is a bond that will last forever. Also, the school I attended not only taught me basic subjects but also real-life skills, which I really enjoyed. 

Sometimes, it is difficult for me to speak about my time in South Africa. This is because it was such a big part of my life and so important to me that I don’t know how to put it into words. People tell me that every time I talk about it, my eyes light up, which is the nicest thing they could say.

What made you decide to study International Affairs at JCU?
I am studying international affairs because I love to travel and enjoy learning about politics. It has also been interesting to see all the relationships between different countries. I chose communications as my minor to help me get on the path of becoming a journalist. This combination is perfect for me, and I love the process.

I chose JCU because I didn’t want to study in my first language, Italian. I wanted to study in English after my time in South Africa, and English is one of my favorite languages. Also, I noticed that JCU does an excellent job of providing students with job and internship opportunities. I took advantage of this and did an internship last summer in the communications field at Inter Press Service, a global news agency in Rome. This semester, I am doing an internship for the Guarini Institute for Public Affairs. I am only 20, but I have already gained experience in many areas, and this is because I chose JCU.

How did you become webmaster for The Matthew? What is your favorite journalism beat?
I have been a part of The Matthew since my first semester at JCU, and in the spring of 2024, I got chosen as webmaster. I took this opportunity to gain experience and get more involved in the journalism world. I love every single part of being on a journalistic team, and I enjoy every single step I go through to write an article. From the research to the interview to the actual writing of the piece, it is beautiful to see your work through the process.

My favorite types of journalism are opinion and investigative journalism, and I love doing the political beat. In the future, I would like to do broadcast journalism and be on television. Right now, I am doing freelance work.

How does being captain of the tennis team relate to your journalistic interests?
I got involved with the tennis team during my first semester at JCU and have been playing ever since. I was made captain because my team and coaches saw how passionate I was about it, and when I am very passionate about something, I do it with all of my heart. Tennis has taught me responsibility and how to handle difficult situations. As tennis players, we are completely alone on the court. It is just me, my mind, and my racket facing the opponent, and there is no one telling me what to do, so I have to be really into the game. I’m challenging myself every day with every shot. This is the mindset I follow for everything I do in my life that I will carry over to my future career as a journalist. Tennis helps me understand that I need to be focused to get results, and it has made me more confident in myself.

Is there any advice you would like to give prospective students of international affairs at JCU?
JCU is an amazing university, and I am very active here. I think every student should get involved because if you are given an opportunity, I see no reason why you shouldn’t take it.

For international affairs students, I would say to never let someone ignore your opinions and never be afraid to speak up, especially since you are learning about delicate topics. I may have a different opinion from my friends and schoolmates, but that shouldn’t keep me from saying what I think and believe. Everybody is free to say what they think, as long as it is delivered in a respectful way, and you should always make your voice heard.