One of the most challenging parts of studying abroad for me has proven to be navigating the Italian university system and the main source of stress for myself and the other students has been the looming date of our oral exams. Unlike at Holy Cross, the exam period for our university here lasts about a month and a half. During this month, our time is devoted to attending in-depth tutoring sessions and full of studying. I never thought I would miss the whirlwind that is finals week at Holy Cross, but at least that whirlwind is an organized one!
Going into study abroad, I was anxious about the idea of doing oral exams in a foreign language. The content of my classes here has been stimulating, but that also means that they have been difficult. Going into my first oral exam, I was probably the most nervous I have ever been for a test. It was quite the combination of nerves considering the exam being in Italian, being a one-on-one conversation with the professor, and being something unknown. However, I really felt a kinship with the other Italian students as we waited for the professor, who was an hour late, to arrive. It turns out that the plight of the neurotic and over-stressed student is not unique to the American college experience.
I had to do three oral exams in total, and some were easier than others depending on the professor. After a month long haze of studying, I finally completed every exam and am happy to report that I passed each one. I never thought that I would be able to actually take courses, let alone exams, at a foreign university, but I’ve somehow managed it. I have to say that when I look back on my career as a student, I think that this is the accomplishment that I’m the most proud of.
