Ananya Shirodkar is a junior student visiting JCU from Rutgers University in New Jersey, where she’s majoring in Journalism and minoring in Communications. She is attending JCU for a full academic year, and she was an intern for the JCU Web Communications office during her first semester abroad.
Why did you decide to study abroad in Rome?
I decided to study abroad in Rome because JCU offered many courses that worked with my Journalism major. In addition, since I was a child, my favorite books were the Percy Jackson & The Olympians and the Heroes of Olympus series, both by Rick Riordan. I've always been interested in Greek and Roman mythology because of it. Having the opportunity to live near the Capitoline Museums, the Colosseum, and just be surrounded by so much history – especially history that has been a huge part of my life – has been a great privilege. It also doesn’t hurt that Rome has amazing food and culture.
Tell us a bit about your internship at the JCU’s Web Communications office.
My duties included attending university events to draft articles and take pictures. I’ve gained considerable major-specific experiences that will definitely help me in my future career. I now know how to properly take photos and edit them. I know how to use applicationslike CMS Cascade and Adobe Lightroom, the likes of which I would’ve never seen in a classroom. Plus, I'm a third-year student and I don’t have much experience working in my field of studies aside from clubs and organizations back home. I thought that taking an internship course here would give me the experience as well as the credits I need to graduate. It’s like killing two birds with one stone!
The opportunity has been really fulfilling. I got to do what I love while also immersing myself in JCU’s student life. I went into journalism because I love storytelling and hearing perspectives different from my own, so I could reshape and open my own mind. I love hearing people talk about their passions. In my time here, I've had opportunities to attend events and listen to new people and I’ve learned so much just by doing this internship.
What did you learn about yourself while studying abroad?
I learned that I’m a lot more capable than I gave myself credit for. I was born and raised in New Jersey and my home university is Rutgers, the state university of New Jersey. Prior to this experience, I always lived in my comfort zone. I could never in my life have imagined being four thousand miles away from home and completely by myself. Living in Rome taught me that I could do it all. I learned to value my own company just as much as I valued the company of my friends and family. I learned to travel to different countries all by myself. I learned how to cook and clean (though I still hate that part) and take care of myself. It’s a lot of responsibility, but it has taught me discipline and independence.
What advice would you give to students that are going to study abroad here at JCU?
For one, pack light. Half the clothes I thought I absolutely needed, I never wore. Now I have to figure out how to get it back into my suitcase along with all the new stuff I bought here. I highly recommend leaving some extra space in your suitcase for any purchases because most likely what you end up leaving behind you can probably find in Rome, too.
Secondly, get involved. It's muchless daunting to meet people at an event when you know there's at least one common interest. Every student here is very welcoming and open. You also get a great resource for people who can help you out with any worries you may have. I don’t even know how many times I’ve asked my peers about travel or transportation.
Finally, have so much fun! There is so much to look forward to coming to Rome and John Cabot. You’re surrounded by beautiful architecture and so much history. There is always something to do. John Cabot hosts so many events and trips to immerse yourself in Italian culture. You have so many resources within the JCU community that can help you with anything you need. For me, this was my first time in Europe at all, so I took full advantage of it. But even for students who aren’t planning on traveling far, there is so much to do within Italy itself that's just a train ride away. I highly recommend Venice, Capri, and Sperlonga. No matter what your plan is, you’re sure to have the experience of a lifetime.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for postgrad aren’t fully fleshed out yet. I am hoping to do my masters in media and entertainment journalism. While abroad at JCU, I took a course called Media, Culture, and Society with Professor Miriam Tola, which fostered my interest in public relations and mass media. I’m quite interested in the evolution and the direction that the media has taken in the past and how it may change in the future. I’m also interested in the question of whether the media affects people or viceversa. It feels like a “chicken and the egg” situation, but Tola’s class really digs into that concept. After my masters, I’m not entirely sure what I want to do, but I think this is a good start!
