By Victoria De Angelis
Photo By Molly Browne
A short cut to riches is to subtract from our desires – Petrarch
I came to Florence to immerse myself in the birthplace of humanism. I wanted to put myself in the shoes of Petrarch and Leonardo da Vinci, who lived in Florence, and fully experience learning sectors adored by most, yet scorned by many. Growing up around New York City taught me to embrace my undying artistic spirit. Yet, I find that this becomes more difficult outside of Manhattan, in the “real world”. The tune regarding professionally pursuing one’s artistic passion remains the same: follow your dreams, but only on weekends, and weekdays after work. Get a job that will promise stability and keep that spark as a hobby. Many students studying the arts can understand that this is terribly uninspiring, especially in a country like the US, which glorifies both dreams and success. However, I am now two weeks into my study abroad venture. Within a day of landing in Florence, I felt this guilt of studying the humanities melt away as I realized I am living in a city which fully embraces it. It’s been a very refreshing experience.
Living in Florence has dissolved some of the tensions I experience at home, as every day I see humanities and careers interlinking everywhere I go. I do not feel compelled to compare my experiences studying what I love with someone else’s arguably more useful or practical choice of study. I believe this is because of the very different cultural experiences one is exposed to in each respective country. Travelers come to Italy for an experience defined by deeply-rooted tradition. Italy is home to the Renaissance, a time in which the humanities were emphasized and blended with Enlightenment. Naturally, hundreds of years later classical culture is sewn into the very fabric of the nation. Centuries-old art is readily accessible, festivals and markets selling homemade products are abundant, and there is no shortage of coffee shop libraries. It’s truly inspiring to see individuals monetizing their creativity, for that is what is encouraged. On the other hand, the US is a melting pot, inspired by constant technological innovation. As a result, there is much less of an artisan presence in professional contexts, and more of this push towards creativity within the STEM fields.
All this being said, I suggest that STEM and humanities students will have different takeaways from this adventure in studying at FUA-AUF because of their differing academic experiences. We all strive to be well-rounded people, and I think studying in Florence is a proper way to achieve this goal in any context. As seen all around the streets of Florence, making a living out of what you’re passionate about is possible. Be smart, be creative, be dedicated, and head towards your dream with confidence.