Spending the week in Rome was a beautiful place to step out of my comfort zone and experience new places and cultures. My favorite experience was seeing the awe-inspiring St. Peters Basilica. We attended Catholic mass on Sunday and even saw Pope Francis. Getting to soak in the ornate walls of the church and experience a new religion was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Rome had plenty in store for me and even changed some of my preconceived views. Before the trip, I had a negative stance on soccer and felt it to be a “silly” sport. However, upon attending an AS Roma game, I quickly realized how much there is to love about soccer. Hearing the passionate chants and waving of team flags opened my eyes to the beauty of the sport. The unity and passion seemed to bring people together in no way I had ever seen. The spectacle could even rival the ear-splitting fans of Kyle Field. It was a different kind of beauty I wasn’t expecting to find outside of a priceless museum or gold-laden church.
I was also able to gain a better understanding of global leadership through learning the admirable qualities of some of Rome’s best leaders. Discussing Julius Caesar’s resilience, Hadrian’s global mindset, and Constantine’s cultural intelligence gave me a more holistic viewpoint on global leadership. These lessons came to life as I could see the legacy left by these great leaders firsthand. It is fascinating to see all the ideas and structures from the Roman Empire that have stood the test of time. One example of this was being able to walk the grounds of the colossal Colosseum, where gladiators used to fight. Another huge legacy left by the Romans is the thriving Catholic Church which was built from the framework of Roman Christianity.
Getting to spend the week in Rome was such a refreshing experience. I would encourage anyone to step out of their comfort zone and take a flight to a different country to become a well-rounded global leader. You could find yourself in a pasta-making class, trying new food, or even changing your preconceived views on things. The sky is the limit when you’re in Italy. You know what they say, “When in Rome…”.
