Hi, I'm Shyloh!
I grew up on a very small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean called Kauaʻi. My home is surrounded by huge green mountains, beautiful beaches, and hundreds of waterfalls. One funny thing about Kauaʻi is that chickens wander around almost everywhere! I love being outside, whether I'm surfing, hiking, swimming, or just watching the sunset after a long day.
Now I go to UCLA in California, where I study communication and entrepreneurship. That means I learn about how people share ideas, tell stories, and connect with one another. I think every person and every place has something we can learn from.
This year I'll be spending 4 months studying abroad in Florence, Italy, and I already know it's going to be such an adventure. Florence will be my home base, but every weekend I'll pack my bag and head off to somewhere brand new. Sometimes a different city in Italy, sometimes a whole new country! I won't know exactly what I'll find, and that's my favorite part. My family is from Italy, so this trip is especially meaningful to me. I'm excited to walk through streets that are older than my home state, practice speaking Italian with local people, and discover what everyday life is like there.
Along the way I'll be trying all kinds of new foods (some I probably can't even pronounce yet), taking fun classes I'd never find back home, and meeting people from all over the world who I hope will become real friends. I'm sure every week will bring something I didn't expect, whether it's a tiny town I stumble upon, a dish that becomes my new favorite, a new best friend, or a story from someone I just met that I'll remember forever.
While I'm away, you'll get to come along with me! I'll share photos, answer your questions, and introduce you to new places. We might visit a busy market one week, learn about an old tradition the next, or compare life in Italy with life on my island in Hawaiʻi.
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 visiting www.gilmanscholarship.org.
