Written by: Stephanie Santiago ’25
This month has been filled with a whirlwind of emotions. At the beginning of this year, I took a leap of faith and applied for a European Art and Culture summer study abroad traveling program with the American Institute for Foreign Study. Weeks later, I became the recipient of a Russel R. Taylor Foundation scholarship, which granted me the necessary funding to embark on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With the Foundation’s generous support and that of my friends and family, I spent a month traveling and studying throughout Europe.
As a first-generation college student at Albertus Magnus College, I am eager to learn and utilize the College’s resources to ensure I have the best college experience possible. Thank you to my friends, family, professors, and the Office of Career and Professional Development as well as the Director, Patrick Clifford, for helping and supporting me every step along the way.
I enjoyed the European Art History course being tailored to meet our needs while also giving us time to digest the art we’d see at museums and galleries. In-class instruction was held daily for three hours and another two hours outside of the classroom as we visited museums guided by our professor. In addition to this hands on learning, we completed blog posts discussing artistic styles and techniques ranging from periods 500 BC to 1900 CE in class. We were also tasked with creating blog posts with a formal and contextual analysis of art pieces that stood out to us in each city. We learned about artistic styles such as Renaissance, Byzantine, Abstract, and Surrealism to name a few. The goal of this program was for us to gain a better understanding of art, its historical importance, and the way in which art can be purposeful and tell a deeper story. This course has allowed me to explore different cultures and styles of expression while gaining a better understanding of European art as it relates to their history.
During this month-long journey, I visited places such as London, Paris, Nice, Monte-Carlo, Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Florence, and Rome. I immersed myself in the different cultures and absolutely loved it. I visited historical landmarks and saw extraordinary artwork such as Michelangelo’s David, the Sistine Chapel, the Mona Lisa, the Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, the Colosseum, artworks by Dali, Picasso, Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Caravaggio, and so much more. One of the highlights of my trip was our day trip to Monte-Carlo, Monaco, where we saw the city preparing for the Formula One races the following weekend.
I met friends I am grateful to have in my life, and I learned about the true meaning of the pursuit of happiness. I believe it lies in seeing and learning from as much as I can of the world to become a better version of myself. I could not have asked for a better study abroad experience. With this, I conclude my Junior year and embark on my final year of Undergraduate Studies. I am truly fortunate and grateful to have visited beautiful places and am eager to return again soon.
