Discovering Italy: Mikayla Osafo Grant ’26 Shares Her Study Abroad Journey
By Aza Abrams ’26
Studying abroad is often described as a transformative experience, and the locations offered by Concord Academy’s program in partnership with School Year Abroad (SYA) —Italy, France, and Spain—stand out as dream destinations. Mikayla Osafo Grant ’26, who is a current study abroad student in Viterbo, Italy, reflects on the lasting impact the program has had on her life and perspective. Italy’s rich history, stunning landscapes, and world-renowned cuisine offer much more than academic growth—they provide a chance for personal exploration and cultural immersion.
Having studied Latin for years, Mikayla was drawn to the Italy program because it was particularly welcoming toward Latin students. Though Mikayla had no prior experience with Italian, she notes that she now often speaks Italian by accident in her Latin class due to the languages’ many similarities.
While she’s not yet fluent, Mikayla can now confidently converse in Italian, saying, “I speak in restaurants, I speak to strangers sometimes. I speak to my friends in Italian [which is] crazy because I’ve never uttered a word in Italian before this.”
Immersion is a key element of SYA’s curriculum, and students are pushed to fully engage with the language of their program. Mikayla’s Italian language class is conducted entirely in Italian, with no English spoken. In addition, Mikayla takes a mathematics class, Latin course, and an English Socratic seminar class.
Mikayla has fully embraced the social Italian lifestyle. “After school, I go to a cafe with my friends,” she says. “People will come and sit at the table we’re sitting at, and [say] ‘we want to practice our English.’ They’re very interested in American culture.”
When asked about her favorite experience, Mikayla described an excursion she took where she was able to explore the country’s famous art and architecture: “We went and did school in Florence, Italy, for a week. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my entire life, 10 out of 10.”
One of Mikayla’s key takeaways from her experience is the importance of learning from mistakes. “I think I’m more nonchalant [now]—you have to fail a lot,” she says. Reflecting on how this trial-and-error process has benefited her growth, she adds, “But you’ve got to remember, you’re all in a new place for the first time. So you lend courtesy to people.”
As Mikayla counts down the final days of her time in Italy, she reflects on how much she’s gained from the experience. For anyone considering studying abroad, Mikayla offers straightforward advice: “Do it, but be prepared. You get out as much as you put in, so be open-minded.” Studying abroad in Italy, though full of challenges, has been a rewarding journey—one that Mikayla will carry with her long after returning home.
