Embrace the Challenge: Meet Marketing Major Greta Ficorilli
Greta is a junior Marketing major and Psychology minor from Rieti, Italy. In Fall 2024, she was an intern at JCU’s Web Communications Office.
Tell us about your background. How did you decide to study at John Cabot University?
I was born and raised in Rieti, a small town in Lazio, Italy. When I went to high school, I knew it was time for me to start thinking about what I wanted to do in life. I had lots of ideas but had no clue where to start. However, all my doubts went away when I came across JCU. I found out about it through a video on social media, and from that moment my mind was made up.
The challenge was to then convince my parents, so I dragged them to multiple open days, both in English – even if they don’t speak a word of it – and Italian. This really reassured and convinced them that I had made the right decision. I still didn’t know what my major would be, but I was sure that this university would be the perfect fit for me. I really liked the fact that you could apply without declaring your major right away because it gave me more time to think about how I wanted to shape my academic path.
Why did you decide to combine Marketing and Psychology?
Once I had decided that I wanted to study at JCU, I was immediately drawn to Marketing; it felt like a natural choice to me. I’ve always been curious about what drives people’s decisions, especially as consumers. I have found myself more than once wondering why a certain advertisement would stick in my mind or why I would choose one brand over the other.
Even if some might think that they have nothing to do with each other, I realized that pursuing a minor in Psychology would be essential for a deep understanding of human behavior and decision-making. Marketing often relies on psychological factors to craft strategies, so I knew that studying psychology could enhance my ability to analyze consumer trends and behavior. Now that I’m here, I have noticed that a lot of my marketing classes intertwine with psychology. For example, in Fall 2024 I took Statistics II and Introduction to Research Methods at the same time, and I spotted lots of similarities, especially in terms of approaching data analysis.
How did your experience at JCU challenge you or help you grow?
JCU has pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way possible. Coming from a small town and being really shy, I was very worried about the idea of moving to a big city where I didn’t know anyone. However, studying at JCU has helped me grow a lot. I think of JCU as a safe space in a fast-paced and sometimes overwhelming city, and it has given me the confidence to face challenges without feeling lost.
In addition to that, the international atmosphere here has been enriching, and it has really allowed me to meet people from all over the world. For instance, one of my friends is from Ecuador: I speak Italian to her, and she speaks Spanish to me. The people around us are usually confused when they hear our conversations, but we have found our own, unique way of understanding each other, and I think that’s beautiful.
Is there a professor or experience that has had a significant impact on you?
More than one professor has had a significant impact on me. One of them is English Professor Anthony Jennings, who teaches in a way that encourages learning without putting too much pressure on students. He is also an excellent listener, which makes me feel free to express what I think without being judged. I really appreciated Dean Stefano Arnone’s teaching style in mathematics as well. When he is with his students, you can see in his eyes the passion he has for his job, and how much he cares about their success.
Finally, thanks to the Center for Career Services, in Fall 2024 I had the chance to do an internship at the Web Communications office, which has been a pivotal experience for me. From the very first day, I felt welcomed by a wonderful team who not only supported me, but also inspired me with their passion and creativity. My favorite part of the internship was taking pictures at events and editing them. I loved capturing people’s energy; it felt great to freeze those moments in time. Learning how to edit and process the images allowed me to make those emotions pop, which was both creatively fulfilling and instructive.
How has your experience at JCU helped you define your academic and career goals? Do you have any future plans yet?
At the moment, I’m still figuring out myself and what I want to do in the future, but I’m pretty sure that marketing is the right direction for me. Before coming to JCU, I didn’t know what trajectory I wanted to take in my career, as I had many interests but struggled to narrow them down. My time here has changed that. The more classes I took, the more clarity and confidence I gained.
As of now, I’m considering pursuing a master’s degree in Luxury Marketing or Fashion Marketing, as I would like to combine my interest in marketing with my love for the luxury and fashion world, but we’ll see where this journey takes me. Only time will tell.
What advice would you give to prospective students who are considering studying at JCU?
If you’re an Italian student and you’re worried about studying in English or meeting new people in an international context, don’t worry. The community here is so welcoming. You’ll find that there are so many friendly people, and the professors are always willing to support you. One of my professors once told me: “You don’t have to have it all figured out right away, just take one step at a time and trust that things will fall into place.” That made me realize that it’s okay to feel nervous at first, but stepping out of your comfort zone is a great way to discover new things about yourself and the world around you – things that you wouldn’t come across without taking the leap. This experience will help you grow in ways you might not expect, so embrace the challenge and trust yourself.
