Photo by Stephanie Dougher 2016 (www.stephaniedee.com)

Jana Bontrager – Italian Major ’16 – Upon entering Penn State as a freshman, I had absolutely no intention, nor – to be honest – interest, in studying language.  I knew I needed to complete 12 credits of a foreign language for my, then, business degree, so I decided on Italian because it sounded pretty and I thought it might be helpful with music.  It was in those basic classes that I fell in love with the Italian language. Through the encouragement and support of the Italian department, I established a concurrent degree in Italian.

Later on, my fondness for Italian compelled me to spend a semester abroad in Siena, Tuscany.  Four months of frothed-to-perfection cappuccino, breathtaking vistas and illustrious art really sealed the deal; Italy had truly won me over. Although my aims for my Italian degree have never primarily been vocational, my experience with all things Italian truly changed my life. Now, as a graduating senior, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in Florence, Italy, and take with me a newfound affinity for Dante, Verdi and Botticelli!