Italian by Claire

Italian by Claire - April 2026 Scholarship Essay

Communication is a skill that accomplishes a lot, when it’s done well. From professional to emotional settings, being able to accurately convey your insight to a person and listen to their own is a key factor of productivity. I’ve found that learning a language forces a person to be more intentional with their word choice, and I’ve realized how much effort it takes to effectively communicate in an unfamiliar setting. I’ve learned these things because of my goal to attain fluency in Italian. Over the course of the past two semesters in college, I’ve taken Italian courses and have practiced the language independently. Even though I’ve made good progress so far, I hope to achieve fluency in the language within the next few years.

Part of the reason why I’m learning Italian is because I think it will aid me in my future career in International Affairs, as well as make me a more well rounded person. As I’ve made headway in learning the language, I’ve found more reasons why I want to pursue this. Other languages (especially Italian) reveal the beauty of other cultures and how people express themselves. It’s a rewarding, yet challenging, experience. This motivates me to continue taking courses throughout college, and I’m even considering pursuing a minor in Italian. I also take time daily to exercise my oral, aural, reading, and writing skills. Hopefully, within the next handful of years, I’ll be proficient in my speaking.

The obvious benefit of learning another language is that I’ll be able to connect with a different group of people more effectively; however, I’d also be accomplishing a difficult task that stretches me as a person. Hopefully, through the process of attaining fluency, I’d also grow in my perseverance and consistency. These are traits that transfer to just about any other area of life, especially communication. I’m optimistic that this will be a goal well-worth the challenge, and I look forward to achieving this.