Hola! My name is Samuel Rodas, and I hope you will follow me on my journey through Italy!
I come from a very small town in Colombia called Belén, where I lived with my grandma and spent my afternoons playing hide-and-seek with my friends. I am 19 years old and immigrated to the United States when I was 11. Since then, I have lived in northern New Jersey, where I enjoyed going on walks, reading in public parks, and playing volleyball with my friends. Two years ago, I moved to New York City to start my college journey. I study economics at New York University and work as a tutor for the America Reads program at an elementary school (shoutout to PS 111!).
This semester, I will be studying in Florence, Italy, where I have the opportunity to learn about international economics, ancient texts, and the Renaissance — topics that interest me greatly. I want to use this opportunity to learn Italian, immerse myself in the culture, and, of course, eat delicious food. I hope you find our journey together exciting!
Want to know more about how you can study or intern abroad when you are a college student? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Learn more about the scholarship by clicking here!
