From Dreaming to Doing: My Journey to Milan

Since high school, studying abroad in Italy has been my dream. I’m fascinated by the art, the fashion, the history, and if a streak of 564 on Duolingo doesn’t scream commitment, I don’t know what does. When I started planning my study abroad experience, I realized there was a whole world of options waiting for me. South Korea’s tech scene? Hong Kong’s East-meets-West vibe? Each offered something unique I hadn’t even thought about.

Still, my gut kept pointing me back to IES Abroad Milan. As a Business Administration student at Babson College, I couldn’t imagine a better place where innovation, design, and entrepreneurship come together. Milan felt like the perfect place to learn, grow, and, let’s be honest, push the boundaries of my self-proclaimed ‘basic’ fashion sense.

I’m especially excited about the courses I’ll be taking: “Cracking the Code: Leonardo da Vinci and Renaissance Art in Milan” (sounds wild, right?) and “Managing Fashion and Luxury Companies”. The idea of studying Italy’s stories while living in Milan itself feels like the ultimate adventure.

Milan means more to me than academics. It’s a city where I feel like I can belong, where my identity as a Pakistani-American, first-generation college student, and Muslim won’t just fit in but add to the mix. I can’t wait to wander the markets, people-watch in the piazzas, and maybe even order a cappuccino in half-decent Italian.

If you’re reading this and wondering if studying abroad is worth it, I’m here to say: absolutely, yes. Choose a program that feels like it was made for you. IES Abroad Milan stood out to me because of its support system and the way it makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger. You’re not just thrown into a new country and left on your own. You’ve got a team, a community, and people who want you to thrive.

Let’s talk about planning. Start early. Really early. I started planning during my first semester, the second week of freshman year, for my junior year study abroad. Meet with your advisor. Apply early. Check your email. Trust me—open them, even if you’re just skimming. You never know what opportunities might pop up. That scholarship? I could not have gotten it if I hadn’t opened the email. 

If you’re thinking, “Funding is too complicated,” trust me, I get it. My mom always says, “Sabr ka phal meetha hota hai" which means that when you are patient, you enjoy the sweetest fruit. She’s right. All those meetings with financial aid, the research, the hours spent scrolling through course catalogs—it all pays off.

I met with my financial aid advisor to plan a budget and worked with my academic advisor to finalize my course plan. I spent hours researching classes, internships, and field trips. If you’re curious, you’ll find answers. Once I got admitted to IES Abroad Milan, my study abroad advisor made everything so easy. Every session, every email, every checklist felt like a roadmap guiding me through the process.

If you’re still reading this, here’s my last piece of advice: don’t be afraid to ask questions, get curious, and start your journey before you even leave home. Studying abroad isn’t just about the city or the country. It’s about finding a new version of yourself, and I am so excited to enjoy that.

If you’re thinking about studying abroad, let’s trade notes. I’m figuring it out too, and the adventure starts before the flight.