Sean Nolan, originally from Long Island, New York, is a student from the University of Delaware, where she is majoring in Media Communication and Women & Gender Studies and minoring in Advertising. She spent her spring 2026 semester studying abroad at John Cabot University, where she completed a for-credit internship with JCU’s Office of Web Communications.
Why did you decide to study abroad in Rome?
As a member of the World Scholar Program at the University of Delaware, I studied abroad during my freshman year in Athens, Greece. The program encourages you to study abroad a second time to include a research or internship experience.
After my time in Athens, I fell in love with Greek culture, history, food, and life in Europe in general. During that semester, I visited Italy on a school break and instantly loved it. I knew I wanted the chance to come back and explore more, so Rome felt like a perfect choice for my second study abroad adventure. I decided to study at JCU because the University offered many courses that fit well with my majors.
What made you decide on your majors and minor?
I honestly had no idea what I wanted to study when I started college. During my last two years of high school, I completed a cosmetology licensing program and was really focused on the beauty industry at the time. After passing my state boards, I was working at a hair salon, and I loved that environment.
At the same time, I became really interested in the behind-the-scenes side of things, like how businesses are run and how stylists promote themselves. I loved the idea of using social media and digital platforms to build a brand. In high school, I was involved in different art classes and worked at an art studio where I created promotional material for the company, which made me realize how much I enjoyed designing and advertising.
I took a marketing class in Greece, which solidified my interests, so I decided to study media communication with a minor in advertising. Then, during my freshman spring semester, I took a women and gender studies class that I found really impactful. It gave me new perspectives on so many things, so I decided to add that as a second major. I thought I could combine that knowledge to create more inclusive and thoughtful campaigns.
Tell us why you wanted to intern at the Web Communications office and a bit about your experience.
The summer before coming to Rome, I interned at a hair salon where I worked on social media management and website development. I really enjoyed the website design aspect, so I knew I wanted to continue doing something like that.
The main focus of JCU’s Web Communications office is to maintain and update the university website and overall online presence. I was responsible for writing and editing news articles, updating web pages, interviewing students, and taking photos at campus events. I learned so much about website management, writing news articles, and digital photography. I was able to expand my skills in the field of digital communication in an international environment that I found very fulfilling.
I am so grateful to the office staff, Berenice, Ricky, and Noelle, for this opportunity. They are always so kind in lending a helping hand, and they welcomed me into such a supportive environment. They taught me so much not only about web communication, but also about life in Italy, the culture, and what it means to be a dedicated team player.
What advice would you give to students who are going to study abroad here at JCU?
I would definitely say put yourself out there, meet new people, and get involved as much as you can. It is so important to build connections, especially when you are in a new place. Even if you’re only here for a semester, you still can make such meaningful friendships that will stay with you for a long time.
There are so many opportunities at JCU to get involved. I joined the Queer Alliance club, where I met amazing new friends who I ended up traveling with. I also went on JCU weekend and a wine-tasting day trips, and took pasta and tiramisu cooking classes. I met some really great people during these experiences and made such good memories.
I’d also recommend taking advantage of university resources, like attending the Student Life fair and signing up for trips and activities. You never know what you’ll miss if you don’t just go for it.
What did you learn about yourself while studying abroad?
Studying abroad in Europe has taught me that I have a lot more endurance than I thought I did. I was really nervous about going abroad in my first semester of college, but it taught me to be less fearful about trying new things. I am so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and connected with as many people as I did during my time in Greece and here at JCU.
Even though I was scared, I put myself out there and met such nice, welcoming, and supportive friends who made it possible for me to get through the semester. Although I was under a lot of stress at times, I was able to manage everything and get the best experience I possibly could. Living in two European cities really opened my eyes to different perspectives of the world and made me more excited about what’s next.
