Stephany Andrade is a senior in the David C. Frederick Honors College and the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences completing a degree in English Literature. With a focus on education, Stephany minors in Secondary education and is completing a certificate in Gender Sexuality and Women Studies. As a first-generation college student, she experienced first-hand the inequalities of being a part of a marginalized community in the education system and is passionate about being part of the change. Stephany is a 2024 David C. Frederick Scholarship recipient and a 2024 Benjamin A. Gilman scholar.
At the beginning of May of 2024, I set off on my journey to Florence Italy for my study abroad. As a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, I was prepared to take on Europe and gain insight into alternative teaching practices, cultures, and languages. Going into studying abroad as a first-generation college student, this experience allowed me to explore the benefits of learning abroad. Throughout my time in Florence, I met up with other Gilman scholars, attended lectures on children’s literature, and traveled all over Italy. I expanded my journey to places like London where I attended Much Ado About Nothing, a Shakespearean play at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. With the funding of my Gilman scholarship, I explored the vast area of Tuscany, Northern Italy, Cinque Terre, and made my way to Switzerland which borders Italy. Throughout these trips, my scholarship funded my traveling by train and allowed me to experience the diverse foods and experiences of Italy's different environments, landscapes, and cultures. I documented my time abroad by writing blog posts for the Frederick Honors College Blog and discussed my experiences as a first-generation student living in Europe. After traveling on the weekends, I would attend class in the Piazza della Republica. My favorite thing about my time in Florence was waking up and walking to class. While I walked about 25 minutes to class each day, nothing could change walking past historical monuments and architectural art like the Duomo. Enjoying my time in Florence, one of my goals throughout my stay was to become as connected to Italian culture as possible. Knowing the language allowed me to take the next step toward interacting with merchants, sales associates, coffee shop tenders, and visiting professors. Though I am not in Florence anymore, I will always remember the path I took to class.