Griffin Crafa, SFS ’25

I took my first Italian course at Georgetown because I needed to reach SFS proficiency and I had taken Italian in high school. I had never seriously considered pursuing an Italian minor. That changed almost instantly. I fell in love with the department — my classes, my classmates, my professors — and I knew I wanted to take as many Italian courses as my schedule allowed.

In hindsight, deciding to pursue a minor in Italian was one of the best decisions I made at
Georgetown. My Italian courses certainly improved my conversational and speaking skills, but
they also increased my knowledge of Italian culture and society. I have read Italian literature,
seen Italian films, and participated in the Great Women Writers celebration. I even had the
opportunity to take a class on the Italian-American experience, which enabled me to more deeply connect with my family’s history. Professors also encouraged us to engage with Italy outside of the classroom through business internships, writing contests, and embassy events.

In the fall of my junior year, I studied abroad at Georgetown’s Villa Le Balze. While the program
was run in English, my Italian classes at Georgetown prepared me to immerse myself in the
language and culture of Florence. Sure enough, I found myself in conversations with shop
owners, waiters, and taxi drivers — all in Italian.

I will really miss the Italian Department’s tight-knit community. There are several social events throughout the year, including the Holiday festa in December (with panettone!) and the end-of-the-year pizza party in May. I made some of my closest friends at Georgetown in my Italian classes, and open discussions — both in and out of the classroom — meant my peers helped me learn and grow as well. I have no doubt that I will carry my Italian language abilities and cultural curiosity — perhaps the greatest gift of Georgetown’s Italian Department — with me beyond the Healy Gates.