Only a handful of weeks into the Fall 2018 semester, when classes were in full swing, I packed my bags and flew across the Atlantic Ocean to Rome, Italy, where I stayed for six weeks.

I decided to apply to a digital arts mentorship program called the Truth & Beauty Project (truthandbeautyproject.com). This program is dedicated to forming a new wave of professional digital artists and equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully impact the culture. I was one of five individuals chosen for this year’s program.

That’s me in the middle. And yes, those laughs are 100% genuine.

Just a couple days after applying, I was facing the prospect of actually going to Rome. Aside from the initial shock of it all, I had to work out classes, seeing as the semester was already several weeks in. The timing worked out perfectly. I dropped one class, right before the drop deadline. The rest of my professors were amazingly accommodating, and for the duration of my trip, I was able to continue those classes as if they were online. With those logistical concerns out of the way, I was free to enjoy Rome and the program at my leisure. Truth & Beauty Project Fellows participated in networking events, prayer, tours, and lectures, in addition to instruction from renowned scholars, artists, and theologians. We were also given behind-the-scenes access to people and places not normally reachable, while working on creative team and individual projects. We also received training in time management, organization, listening skills, etiquette, and the art of living in the present moment. During the Project, we lived just a five-minute walk from St. Peter’s Basilica in the heart of Rome, where we were surrounded by the beauty of centuries’ worth of art, as well as contemporary art and media influencers.

Inside St. Peter’s Basilica

For a country kid hailing from basically the middle of nowhere, going to Rome was a fantastic experience. Not only is Rome a huge, bustling city, it’s one that’s loaded with thousands of years’ worth of history and culture. I learned so much, not only having to do with digital arts and the other instruction the program delivered, but also just soaking in Italian culture.

I learned how to say “grazie” with the proper accent (although sadly my Italian doesn’t go much further than that), how to swing dance, how to (more or less) navigate the ridiculously complicated Roman transportation system, and that in Rome, the bus driver may or may not decide to show up. Not to mention, Italy is absolutely beautiful and I have every intention of going back.

Assisi – a train ride away from Rome and absolutely gorgeous.

Two nuns sharing a joke in Termini, Rome’s largest train station.

Even more, I made several important (and unexpected!) connections. I actually almost got a job in Rome, before I realized that my Visa wouldn’t last long enough. I also got the contact of two DEA special agents stationed in Rome at the U.S. Embassy, which has reopened my interest in law enforcement.

If any student ever has even the chance of an opportunity to do some sort of internship/study abroad program, do it! The English language doesn’t contain the words to fully express how amazing my experience was. College is a time to develop as a person, and going that extra step with a once-in-a-lifetime experience is an excellent way to grow. Although Cecil College is a small community college, everyone here was incredibly accommodating, and they’ll really go above and beyond to help students succeed.