Upon arriving in Florence, I found myself fortunate enough to live in the Santo Spirito District. Tucked away from the city center, Oltrarno holds a local jewel. As it is an area unknown to most tourists, living there enabled me to truly “live like a local.” I was able to explore far beyond the Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens. Piazza Santo Spirito proved to be a home away from home. Only a block away, I would stand just before the Basilica di Santo Spirito to shop the market for gifts, indulge in truffle tortellini, socialize with friends over aperitivo, and observe the locals. The liveliness and spirit tucked away beyond the river amazed me and I was happy to be a part of it.
Walking nearly everywhere was a choice in that I preferred to walk each street and familiarize myself with the city, yet it was also demanded of me. I walked everywhere and endured tendonitis because of it. Even then I couldn’t help but walk—it was the best way to take in the city and be among the locals. And a gelato cup at the end of the day while relaxing on the Ponte alla Carraia always encouraged me to go out and sit by the River Arno.
Once acclimated to my new city, I traveled nearly every weekend. While most of my friends chose to travel more throughout Europe, it being my first time abroad, I opted to travel around Italy so that I could have a deep understanding of the country in which I studied abroad. My first outing was a day trip to Prato, where I had an amazing crock dish with potatoes, pecorino cheese, and caramelized onions—I think about it to this day. After my first trip, I was eager for more. I took a day trip to Luca and rode bikes around the old walls. I visited the gateway to the cinque terre and saw the naval base in La Spezia. When my family came to visit, we boated though Venice and took in the historical sites of Rome. As soon as they left, I was off to Sicily on an overnight train! I even booked an adventure through Smart Trip Europe to the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri. We also stopped in Naples for pizza and toured Pompeii—something I never thought I’d find so beautiful. My final trip was a solo trip to Riomaggiore, the first town of the Cinque Terre. I stayed in a youth hostel and befriended the youth staying there. In fact, I enjoyed my solo journey so much, I regret not doing more. I hiked from Riomaggiore to Manarola and then took the train back after indulging in the best pesto I’ve ever had—the coastal towns don’t mess around with their pesto.
Academically, I will never forget all that I learned. My program had traveled to Sicily to study its unique culture and individuality. We swam off the coast of Taormina, and I never thought I’d be so excited to see a jellyfish swim with me. In Catania, we hiked the Mt. Etna volcano to observe craters, and lava flows that created igneous rock. Florence University of the Arts challenged me to be outgoing and knowledgeable in all my pursuits. I excelled and contributed greatly to my group projects and presentations, finding confidence from peer and professor praise. I had the privilege of building a close relationship with my English professor in that I was lucky to be taking two classes with her. We studied both “Great Love Letters of Men and Women” and “Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels.” She became a role model and mentor for me, modeling what I aspire to achieve with my degree. Nearing the end of the semester, I asked if she was willing to take a plant that I had bought on my first day in Florence. I named it Cosimo and was happy knowing he would be happy and cared for in his home city—though I regret that, I, his caretaker, could not stay.
I look back on my journey with immense pride, knowing I accomplished so much all on my own, and only at twenty years old. Florence will always hold a special place in my heart, and I dream of the nostalgia that will hit when I do return—when, not if. It pains my heart to know I will never have the privilege of reliving who I was with the friends I made abroad. Though, I can envision myself in another twenty years returning to Jazz Club Firenze to bask in the nostalgia, though I doubt the drummer would let me smash the cymbal—some things are only meant to be experienced once to make the memories are that much sweeter, and I have Sigma Tau Delta’s Long-Term Study Abroad Scholarship to thank for helping me create these memories.
Adia Clarke
Long-Term Study Abroad Scholarship Recipient, Fall 2023
Epsilon Chi Chapter
SUNY at Cortland, Cortland, NY
Study Abroad Scholarships
The scholarship provides funding for the purpose of studying in a program that furthers the applicant’s engagement with Sigma Tau Delta’s mission. Students may apply for either a Long-Term or Short-Term scholarship. Applicants should demonstrate academic scholarship and chapter service; they also must explain the relevance of their study abroad program and activities to fostering the discipline of English, including literature, language, writing, or literacy.
Long-Term Study Abroad Scholarship
The Long-Term Study Abroad Scholarship provides up to $3,000 for students studying for a full academic term or year in a certified, undergraduate program outside the country in which the nominating chapter is located.
Short-Term Study Abroad Scholarship
The Short-Term Study Abroad Scholarship provides up to $1,500 to support participation in an undergraduate study-abroad program of less than an academic term. The program must be a certified, undergraduate program outside the country in which the nominating chapter is located.
Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
- Currently an undergraduate student
- Plan to study abroad in a certified undergraduate program for all or part of an academic term
All applications will be submitted via the AwardSpring Online submission process.
Application Deadline: October 13 through November 3, 2025, 4:00 p.m. CT
Past Study Abroad Scholarship Recipients
English Connections through Arcades and Gachapon Shops during a Study Abroad
Fulfilling a Fantasy Dream with a Study Abroad
Publishing, Passion, and Paris: My Study Abroad Experience in Paris
Studying Abroad: From Museums to Host Moms
Study Abroad, Or How to Succeed during the Unexpected
Study Abroad Scholarship Sparks Creativity in Nottingham
Study Abroad Scholarship: English Education in Maastricht
Study Abroad Scholarship: Royal Holloway-University of London
Study Abroad and Diversify Your College Experience
On Studying Abroad
Summer Stories from Abroad
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. The Society strives to
- Confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies;
- Provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities;
- Foster all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing;
- Promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members;
- Exhibit high standards of academic excellence; and
- Serve society by fostering literacy.
With over 900 active chapters located in the United States and abroad, there are more than 1,000 Faculty Advisors, and approximately 9,000 members inducted annually.
Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.
