Before coming to Italy, I thought that living in the host country of the Olympics would be so exciting as everything would be focused promoting the Olympics. However, where I'm studying (Florence, a few hours south from Torino) the only way one can realize the Olympics are in progress is the massive amount of tourists walking around the city during the low season.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to Torino for the day to see the Olympics, and it was a fabulous experience! Although we missed most of the Cross Country Skiing event due to the late trains in Italy, (regardless of what they say, the trains do not run on time in Italy!) we were able to watch the winner ski across the finish line, which was the best part because he was from Italy. Although it would have been nice for us Americans if any competitors from the U.S. had placed, we had so much fun cheering for Italy and feeling like we had won as well because we knew the right Italian words to cheer him on. We kept shouting "Dai! Dai!" For a moment, I think we thought we were Italian :)
It was so exhilarating to be at the Olympics. While we were only able to see the last few minutes of one event, it was still so amazing to be there. Although most people there were Italian, we were still able to meet people from all over the world. If you ever have a chance, go to the Olympics! Even now I'm trying to figure out a way to get to Vancouver in 2010 :)
Presidential Scholar Elise Melrose is majoring in Politics & Government with minors in Communication and Italian Studies. She will graduate summa cum laude in May 2007 with multiple designations: Honors Program Scholar, Certificate in University Honors, University Honors Scholar, and Departmental Honors in Politics & Government.
Elise is a student who took full advantage of all the benefits and opportunities the Honors Program offers. Elise had the opportunity to attend other universities, but the Honors Program is what drew her to ISU—and she says she hasn’t been disappointed! Early on, Elise made the decision to be involved—she believes that college “is not just about what I am going to get out of it.”
Elise interviewed and was selected to serve as a Presidential Scholar Assistant (PSA) for two consecutive years. This is one of the student leadership positions made available to Honors students. Elise co-facilitated one of the Presidential Scholars Freshman Seminars and served as a mentor to students. Not only did this position provide valuable leadership experience for Elise, but she also reported that she loved the opportunity to encourage and mentor freshmen students.
While studying abroad in Florence, Italy, Elise finished her Italian Studies minor, gained a better grasp of the language, and experienced personal growth. “Orderly chaos!” were the words she used to describe the culture in Italy. However, even though it seemed chaotic to her, everyone else seemed to know exactly what they were doing! She came to understand some of her own ethnocentric views and has become fascinated with different cultures! Elise also connected with her Italian heritage and feels that she knows more about herself as a result of her experiences in Italy. One of her unique opportunities was to meet some of her Italian relatives and see the home where her Great Grandpa lived.
Elise volunteered with the Extended Day Program for her Service Learning project. The program is an alternative sentence for juvenile delinquents who would otherwise be sent to the detention center. Elise found that working with these kids really intensified her interest in how the law affects children and youth.
As part of an Independent Honors Study project, Elise is currently an intern at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Bloomington. She has been able to observe interviews with abused children who come to the center. She is also getting hands-on experience reviewing local cases and comparing them to Illinois Court and U.S. Supreme Court cases. She has been extremely impressed with the way McLean County is helping abused children. Furthermore, her experience has helped to solidify the direction of her future career—one in which she can be an advocate for children.
As Elise prepares to leave ISU and begin law school at DePaul University, she reflected on the last four years. According to Elise, her experiences at ISU have been shaped by the Honors Program. Her closest friends are other Honors students she met freshman year. She reported that she could count on her Honors advisor for support and direction and always felt warmly welcomed by the Honors staff. Most of all she feels that the Honors Program empowered her by making her aware of so many opportunities and helping facilitate her involvement in them.
