By Nia Gamble
Ciao! Mi chiamo Nia e sono di Queens, New York. Studying Italian has opened a doorway into a culture I’ve long felt connected to but have not yet had the privilege to fully explore. Even from inside the classroom, learning the language feels like discovering pieces of my maternal family’s story, the traditions that shaped them, and the rich history embedded in the regions they came from. Every new phrase and grammar rule brings me closer to understanding a world that has deeply fascinated me.
Exploring Italian culture in New York has been just as enriching. I’ve bonded with my mother over trips to Veniero’s Café in Manhattan, her favorite Pasticceria since the 1990s as well as visiting art exhibits and falling in adoration with the works of Caravaggio and Gentileschi. One of my goals is to travel to my family’s commune of origin, Sant’ Angelo a Scala, to understand their everyday lives, the saints they venerated, and the civilizations that came before them. I also want to better understand the decisions they made to leave a place of love, tradition, and community to seek a better life.
In the future, I hope to bring my healthcare experience with me and volunteer in local communities and hospitals across Italy. Engaging in service, learning from Italian healthcare professionals, and supporting underserved populations. This would allow me to bridge my studies in Italian with my commitment to medicine.