Take a look back at Hannah’s exit interview and she looked forward to graduate school.
Interview date: April 30, 2020
What’s your name?
Hannah Gehringer
What’s your major? Do you have any minors?
Media Studies and Production major and Italian minor
What program did you go on? Why?
I studied abroad for an academic year on the Temple Rome program. When I first started looking at colleges, I knew I wanted to participate in this program, and it was one of the reasons I decided to go to Temple for undergrad. Rome had always interested me because of its rich history and art culture. Also, I’m an Italian minor and had taken a few language courses during my freshman and sophomore years, so I was looking forward to expanding on those skills and speaking Italian in my day-to-day life.
Did you have any experience abroad before this program?
No, before studying abroad I had never been to Europe or on a plane by myself before. Needless to say, studying abroad was full of a lot of firsts for me and was a huge learning experience!
What’s your favorite memory from that program?
My favorite memory from my time in Rome would be the week my mom and brother came to visit. I had missed them so much during my year abroad, and I was happy to show them around the city that had become my home. Also, during the fall semester, I took a History of Art in Rome course. I learned so much about the city and all of its monuments through that class, and so when my family came to visit I got to be their tour guide! I took them to all of my favorite museums and churches that I visited through the class, and they were really happy to see some sites that were off the beaten path.
What’s the most important thing you learned from this program, be it personal or academic growth?
Studying abroad taught me to roll with the punches and be comfortable in the face of ambiguity. Spending a year Rome presented new and unfamiliar challenges everyday, but I eventually learned that a lot of the difficulties I faced were out of my control, like the language barrier or the inconsistent public transportation system. Through studying abroad, I learned that it’s okay to not be in control of everything and that some of the best memories come out of these challenges.
What are you doing after graduation?
Next year, I’ll be going to law school. I’m not exactly sure where just yet, but I know I’m definitely going.
How did your time studying abroad impact your post-grad plans?
Before studying abroad, I had always toyed with the idea of going to law school, but I had never seriously considered it. I thought it might be something I would enjoy, but no one in my family has a college degree, let alone a law degree, so the idea of taking such a huge leap on my own definitely held me back. But, through studying abroad, I gained an immense amount of confidence and independence. When I came back to the US and started thinking about my post-grad plans, I knew I was capable of getting into law school, so I used the new confidence I had gained to push myself to try. And I did it! Right now I’m still weighing my options, but I’m so grateful for the new perspective that study abroad gave me. Without it I don’t know what I would be doing next year.
Any advice for current Temple students who want to go abroad?
If you can go abroad during college, you definitely should! And if your schedule allows for it, consider a longer program, such as a semester or an academic year. The more time you spend abroad, the more you’ll learn about yourself and the world. And trust me, you wouldn’t regret a few more months in a new and exciting country.
Where is Hannah now?
Find out which law school Hannah chose and learn more about how study abroad prepared her to take the leap. Friday, April 16, 2021 at 12pm ET.