Before diving headfirst into law school applications and the nail-biting waiting game of the Fall 2025 cycle, I leaped across the ocean and spent a transformative semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy. I knew law school would require absolute focus, and I had committed to its completion for a lifetime. As someone who had never even traveled out of the country before, I wanted to step outside of the U.S. and get a new perspective before going into that world. What I didn’t expect was how much this experience would affect my mindset and future as a law student and legal thinker.
Slowing Down Gave Me Perspective
Florence, and Italy in general, has a way of making you slow down. From sitting on the steps of the Piazzale Michaelangelo at sunset, walking through the Uffizi, or ordering espresso from locals uninterested in rushing, I was constantly being pulled away from the hyper-productive culture law school is renowned for. And strangely, that hiatus did not feel like a diversion from my goals; it felt like training. I discovered how important it is to be present and observe every detail of your surroundings with attention. Many of the skills gained through my travels are critical to being a good law student.
Legal Curiosity Doesn’t Stop
Even outside the classroom, I found myself engaged in matters of governance, justice, and social ordering. Learning about Italian history, art, and even food laws in my Florentine history cooking class made me remember that law is permeating everything. A walking tour class of the Palaces of Florence became a lesson in public space and historic preservation law. Learning about the Medici in the context of their broad legal and political influence in Italy and beyond was so fascinating, and even more awesome to see how it is relevant today. Law is never just in books; it is in history, people, and everyday life.
In Florence, I was often the stranger. I did not speak the language fluently, and I did not always understand the local traditions. That discomfort taught me compassion. It was a reminder of what it’s like to not have the “right words” or to not be sure of your footing. As a future lawyer, especially one who hopes to practice among underserved communities, that is an invaluable lesson. The law can be intimidating. If I can remember what it was like to navigate a new system in every country I visited in Europe, then I can be a more compassionate and effective advocate for those doing the same in our legal system.
There’s More Than One Path to Success
It’s easy to fall into the one-track mind of what the path to a successful legal career has to look like. Yet in Italy, where they take two-hour lunches and where success can seem like craftsmanship and tradition, they contradicted that narrative. I met people so in love with what they did, whether they were making leather journals, restoring Renaissance paintings, or running a third-generation trattoria. They showed me that purpose and joy don’t always follow prestige. I came back home determined to seek meaning, not just milestones.
Studying abroad in Florence didn’t teach me case law, but it taught me how to be present, how to listen and learn from the experiences of others, how to think critically across cultures, and how to honor both discipline and joy. As I move forward to the next chapter in my legal education, I’m taking this vision with me in how I think, work, and hope to serve. It is so true that studying abroad is a life-changing experience, and I strongly believe everyone should do it.
