Senior Chases her Dreams Through Study Abroad Opportunity

Alexandra Woytko could not believe she made it to Italy — a place she dreamt of when she was a little girl.

With a desire to study abroad, this summer, Woytko did not hesitate to get on a plane and head to the Florence University of the Arts.

Woytko was the only student from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania traveling. When she arrived, she was one of 600 students from around the world.

“I think in order to grow and find yourself, you need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” she said.

A senior majoring in hotel, restaurant and tourism management (HRTM), Woytko took two classes abroad: Cultural Introduction to Italy and Special Event Management. In the special event class, the students toured every luxury hotel and event venue in Florence. They then had to plan, promote, advertise, decorate and serve a four-course fine dining dinner for over 30 people. The cultural class was meant to showcase a little bit of Italy. Two teachers took the students to five small towns in Italy, where they learned culture and history.

“I loved how approachable Italian people were — they love Americans,” she said. Her first experience out of the country, she admits the trip was not easy.

Woytko looked to lessons she learned at ESU in the most challenging situations of her time abroad. A member of the swimming team for the past three years, she learned how to prioritize.

“While soaking in everything I could about the country, I had to focus on my classes and the work I came out there to do. Because of my experience as a student athlete, I was better able to manage my time,” she said.

Her classroom this summer might have been in a different country, but Woytko quickly saw many familiarities from her classes on campus. She specifically remembers thinking of Carol Miller, associate professor of HRTM, and everything she learned in hospitality marketing. Those lessons on demographics and how to advertise were key in helping her get the word out about the event in Italy.

Being alone in a foreign country, Woytko stepped out of her comfort zone.

“I am normally an introverted person, but I had to put myself out there to make friends and get everything I could out of the experience,” she said.

Italy was the perfect place to do it. Woytko experienced a culture of people who love to sit down together for dinner and cherish every meal. She learned that sometimes “Americans need to take a step back from work” and enjoy themselves.

“We get in a routine and forget there’s a whole other world out there,” she said. “Studying abroad is a chance to experience something different- to do something you’ll never forget.”

Woytko was able to take part in this opportunity through a program affiliated with ESU. Study Abroad Italy (SAI) is a comprehensive study abroad organization offering exciting educational opportunities, paired with cultural experiences, in Florence, Rome, London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Arezzo, Sorrento and Siena.

Woytko encourages more students to take advantage of study abroad opportunities.

“It’s a great way to find out who you are and who you want to be,” she said.

There are a lot of opportunities to study abroad for the fall semester. Students can choose from programs in over 50 different countries, depending on where they want to go and what they want to study. For more information on study abroad programs at ESU, contact Michael Laffey, coordinator of international programs, at 570-422-3527.

Search

Recent Posts