Maria Hays

Maria Hays, fourth year health sciences major, studied at the Sant'Anna Institute in spring semester 2022.

My semester abroad in Sorrento, Italy at Sant’anna Institute was truly a life-changing experience. Through living with a host family, I fell in love with Italian culture and life and learned about what it means to be Italian. Through my immersive classes, we traveled to archaeological sites such as Pompeii and Herculaneum to see the incredible historic sites we learned about in class. Through my internship in plastic surgery, I was able to observe surgeries and assist a surgeon in both outpatient and inpatient settings, teaching me invaluable lessons about myself and my future career as a surgical Physician Assistant.  

In addition to all of this, the chance to travel the world and experience all it has to offer is an incredible opportunity I could not recommend more. Although challenging at times to be away from home, I met so many lifelong friends and Sorrento will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s greatly increased my confidence, independence, and passion for exploring the world.