Elif Vitobello, who hails from Naples, just graduated from JCU with a major in International Business and a minor in Marketing. Elif was setter and captain of the volleyball team for three years while at JCU.
Could you tell us a little bit about your background? I was born and raised in Naples, Italy, but my mom is from Turkey. That's where my name comes from. I spent my entire childhood in Naples, but every summer I would travel to Turkey so that I could spend time with my family there.
How did you find out about John Cabot? I knew about JCU because the daughter of one of my dad's colleagues attended the University. I wanted to study in English, and I wanted to have the chance to study abroad because Italian high schools don't always offer this opportunity. I wanted to get to know a bit more about the American system and the way it works, so I decided to apply. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I would choose JCU a hundred times over, and I recommend it to everyone.
Was it difficult for you to adapt to a new school system and language? I just started here as a normal degree-seeking student, and at first, it was quite different, especially the way classes are structured and the rules of attendance, etc. It was very similar to high school for me, and I was used to studying a lot, since I attended a liceo classico (classical high school). However, after the first semester, the professors get to know you very well, and there’s always a lot going on around campus, so it becomes quite easy to live in Rome and to be at JCU.
Why did you decide to combine an International Business major with a minor in Marketing? I have always been interested in the managerial world. My dad works for a company, and I wanted to be like him when I was a child. The idea of working in an international environment and having the chance to travel a lot really appealed to me. I'm the kind of person who cannot stay in the same place for too long, and so I knew that international business was the right path for me. When it comes to marketing, I'm also a very creative person. I like to promote myself and to create social media content, and so I thought that adding this path to my degree would bring something different.
Is there a specific class or professor that impacted you? A professor I really liked was Tanja Lanza. I had two marketing classes with her my last semester, and she is amazing. You can see that she is very passionate about her job and her students. She's also young, so she knows how to entertain us. For example, we went on field trips to Rinascente and Uniqlo. Inside the shops, we had to analyze the different marketing contents. It was extremely useful, and it was something different.
Elif Vitobello
You were the setter and captain of the volleyball team at JCU. How did you get involved, and how did you manage to balance both academics and athletics? What was the biggest challenge of being part of a coed team? I decided to try out my first semester here at JCU. I was very worried because I was not sure if I would make the team. The coach was also new – he was starting that year – and on top of that, the team already had a captain. But then I got into the team, and they also asked me to be the new captain. That was particularly important to me.
Since it’s a coed team, it's a different kind of experience, especially when it comes to managing people with diverse backgrounds. And of course, in terms of technique, men play a very different kind of volleyball compared to women. It's more about strength rather than technique, and so it can also be difficult for coaches to balance the training. But it was fun! We took so many trips together as a team. We went to Athens and Denmark, and we went to all the retreats together. I made so many memories and met so many people from all over the world.
What is the biggest lesson to learn about being captain of a team, or just being involved in sports in general? Sports teach you a lot. I'm not a very patient person, but in this kind of situation, I learned how to be patient, how to listen to people more, and how to better understand them. People are different. You have to understand that people might have different thoughts from yours, and so, being captain taught me that I have to listen, I have to be present, and I have to encourage everyone in the best way possible – and in different ways, because not everyone gets cheered up in the same way.
Now there will be a new captain after three long years. But a part of me will always be with the team. It was such a valuable experience. I always tell everyone: try out for a sport while you are here, it makes your experience so much better. Join the athletics program. The staff members are all young, and it's a pleasure to go to practice or even to stop by the gym to say hi. Everyone here is friendly and welcoming.
What are your plans for the future? In September, I will go to Madrid for my master’s degree in management. I was accepted into Europe Business School (ESCP), which has different campuses around the world. I’m supposed to change campus every six months. I'd like to spend one year in Madrid, and then do another exchange semester, and then I want to be in Paris for my final semester, because that is where they have the biggest recruitment organizations. I will be studying management, and then each semester I will choose a different specialization, focusing on consulting or AI integration.
What is your advice for someone who is considering studying at an American university? Do the direct exchange semester here at JCU. I went to San Diego State University, and it was such a crazy experience for me. I got to see what actual America looked like, how people live, how students live there, and what their university experience is like. There were 20 Italian students from Bocconi University, and we were always with other international students from all over the world. I met many people from Australia and from England. I took surfing lessons there and even surfed alongside seals, so it was definitely something far outside anyone's comfort zone. Yet, you quickly adapt to the environment.
I would strongly recommend that everyone study abroad, because this experience changes you, and it also looks good on your resume. Studying abroad greatly helped me with my master's applications. The fact that I studied at an American university in Rome, as well as in the US, completed internships, and served as the captain of the volleyball team, not only made me a more competitive candidate but also made a real difference in my personal journey.
