Six months ago, Dr. Jon Tuttle, director of the Francis Marion University Honors program, announced the names. Three students---a sophomore, a junior, and a senior---would accompany three McNair scholars on a nine day trip to Italy over spring break. Visions of adventure played through our heads as Dr. Tuttle declared the three chosen students.

"The senior going is...Caroline Granger. The junior going is...Rachel Droze. The sophomore going is..." The pause here felt endless. "Anna Patton."

When he said my name, my heart threatened to burst literally out of my chest. I tried to calm myself as my head spun. The trip isn't until March---next year, I reminded myself---that's forever from now. However, before I knew it, my family had dropped me off at the school and we were on our way.

My Honors trip to Italy was full of "firsts." It was the first time I traveled outside of the United States. It was the first trip I ride on a train. It was even the first time I had ever been on an airplane!

As our plane began to take off, I found myself praying, thanking God for the opportunity and asking for safe travels. I leaned back and smiled, both nervous and excited.

What would Italy, the country some of my family immigrated from, be like? What should I expect? Would it be as amazing as I had dreamed it would be for the past six months?

The answer: no. Italy was even more amazing than I had ever dreamed. During our trip, we visited Rome, Florence, Siena, and Pisa. I soon discovered that the beauty of Italy stretches from the historic cobblestone paths in the big cities to the herds of sheep grazing on endless fields of lush green grass in the country side.

The first place we visited was Rome. Unlike the landscape we are used to, Rome's streets rise up and down, over hills and into cobblestone valleys. While in Rome, we explored the Vatican and entered the Sistine Chapel. The entire building was decorated with beautiful statues, paintings, and other spectacular art that left me in awe. Each incredible piece had a story connected to it, and being the history lover I am, I rented the audio-guide to learn as much as I could.

Entering the Sistine Chapel was like stepping into a separate, marvelous universe. Breathtaking paintings with deep, vibrant colors and masterful strokes coat the entire room. The air seemed to stand still as we stood in wonder, as if the whole space was under a spell. I know I was.

The entire journey seemed like that----enchanting and magical. Over the course of nine days, we visited the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, and the Galleria dell'Accademia, where the statue of David is kept. We also saw Pope Francis, went into the prison where Peter and Paul were kept, and gaped at the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Every day was a new adventure. It seemed every hour was filled with new, incomparable experiences.

I want to thank Francis Marion University for allowing me this opportunity and this amazing adventure. Thank you to President Fred Carter, the Honors program, and the awesome team of chaperones who helped make this trip both possible and incredible. I will never forget my spring break in Italy---what I saw, what I learned, or what I did.

Thank you so much!