Olivia Luongo, COL’21

“Deciding to pursue a minor in Italian is one of the best decisions I made at Georgetown.”

When I took Advanced II with Professor Melucci my freshman spring, I knew I had found one of my favorite departments at Georgetown. What I did not know, however, was just how important the Italian Department would become to me. In that first class alone I met people that ended up becoming some of my best friends at Georgetown. Additionally, through my classes, I have had the opportunity to learn about various elements of Italian culture, such as Italian cinema, singer-songwriters, and points in history. I also love how the Italian Department creates a community among its students, and through Italian Department events I have had the opportunity to become close with professors and students that I have never taken classes with.

In my sophomore year, I joined the board of Il Circolo Italiano, which has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my Georgetown career. Through my position as co-president, I have been able to work with professors from the Italian Department. I have enjoyed meeting students of all levels—from beginners to graduate students—at Chiacchiere e Caffè and bonding with them over our passion for the Italian language and culture.

Deciding to pursue a minor in Italian is one of the best decisions I made at Georgetown. My classes have improved my ability to communicate with my Italian family members and helped me understand their culture. When I last went to Italy to study at Georgetown’s Villa Le Balze, I felt comfortable communicating with native speakers in Italian. I’d like to thank the Italian Department for expanding my understanding of the Italian language and culture!