Italy: Eva Wickboldt
Program: UW Classics in Italy, Summer
Major: Art History
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
My most memorable experience from the program was getting to go into the Capitoline Museum by myself. I was in awe of this museum after going on a tour of it with the program and decided to go back on our free day in Rome. I went back and was able to see sculptures like the Dying Gaul that I have studied in my art history coursework at UW-Madison. I got to sit with these artworks and sketch them, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the detail and techniques of the pieces. Sitting surrounded by the artwork, history, and culture is an experience I will never forget.
What did you learn about yourself or the world because of your experience?
I learned that I can do hard things. I have never traveled before and it was scary to take the international flight. But I did it and I am so glad that I did because I had an unforgettable experience. I learned that I can do hard things or things that scare me. Another thing that struck me while traveling around Italy and looking at all of these works of art, monuments, and the scenery is how big the world truly is and how small I am in comparison.
Learning about and seeing these famous works of Roman Art helped me to put into practice what I have been learning about in class
What is the moment you are most proud of?
The moment I am most proud of is climbing Mount Vesuvius. On the program, I was challenged to do things that scared me, like climbing Vesuvius, since I am afraid of heights. Once I got to the top, I was so proud of myself for facing my fear and the view was so beautiful, I forgot to be afraid. This was one of the many moments where I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and I am really proud of that.
How will your experience benefit you in the future? How might it affect your future career or studies?
My experience will benefit me in the future, due to its museum focus. I am studying art history and hope to work in a museum one day as a collections assistant or curator. During my program, we went on a lot of guided museum tours, where we got to be fully immersed in art and get to see all that a museum has to offer. Learning about and seeing these famous works of Roman Art helped me to put into practice what I have been learning about in class and also will help me to carry a deeper meaning about these works into a museum career in the future.
