Studying Italian can shape a student’s path in ways that go far beyond the classroom, as is evident in the story of Italian student Arianna Struppa. For her, learning Italian at Chapman was not simply an academic choice; it was a way of returning to a part of herself. “Being half Italian, with my dad from Milano, and spending my summers in Calabria, the language has always been part of my identity,” she reflects, “but studying it at Chapman deepened that connection in such a meaningful way.”
Arianna credits her professors with shaping her growth, especially Professor Mattavelli, who “taught me discipline and showed me the importance of working hard even if something doesn’t come so easy!” That blend of rigor and encouragement gave her the confidence to imagine her future abroad — and now she is preparing to move to Milan to pursue a master’s degree at Università IULM in Fashion Communication and Luxury Studies. It’s a direction that allows her to bring together her Strategic Corporate Communication major with her bicultural identity: “I hope to build a career that connects my major and my Italian identity, which will help bridge both my American and Italian backgrounds!”
To current Italian students at Chapman, her advice is: “Soak up the language and culture like a sponge. Take advantage of study abroad programs and travel courses!”
