Italian Language and a Passion to Learn Anonymous

The air in my grandparent’s house is filled with the aroma of pomodoro sauce and the sounds of a slightly out-of-tune piano. There is a contagious energy the minute you walk through the door. Sunday afternoons are marked by delicious meals, family reunions, and chaotic Italian phrases spoken over a large dining room table. My grandparents are first-generation Italian-Americans who have always been thrilled to share their language and culture with me. For years I sat mesmerized by the Italian language spoken over meals, awestruck by the ease of those speaking and the confusion of those watching.

When choosing a language to speak in high school, I was delighted to find that Italian was offered. For the past four years, sixth-period Italian class has reminded me of those wonderful Sunday afternoons. Over the years, words that filled notebook pages have finally become fluid conversations. Excited by the power of language, I joined the Italian Culture Club and participated in the Italian Art and Poetry Competition at my local university where I illustrated the program cover with a pen and ink drawing of Dante. It has truly been an exciting journey to learn about Italian cultures and uncover the power of language.

I yearn to achieve...