When I think back to my time at John Cabot University, a wide array of wonderful memories come to mind. Strolling through Trastevere, chatting with professors, and soaking in Roman history are only a few elements that made up my daily life as a JCU student.
But there is one aspect, in particular, that follows me wherever I go: the Alumni community.
Ask any John Cabot alum about his or her college days and each person will have personal stories and memories, but each story will have one element in common: the relationships and friends made at JCU that will last a lifetime.
A Real Melting Pot
JCU students are unlike people you will meet at any other university. They are international, multicultural, and driven. They come from all over the world, bringing their own cultures, histories, and traditions with them. This is what turns our beloved American-Italian university into a real melting pot.
I graduated from John Cabot in 2015. Since then, I cannot count how many mini alumni reunions I've had or how many fellow graduates I have spent time with. The friends I made during my college years were more than just classmates and acquaintances. We grew up together, we lived together, we studied together, we explored the world together, and we supported each other.
This support certainly has not halted throughout the years.
Friends Around the Globe
Today, I have the comfort of knowing I have friends around the globe. Wherever I travel, or whatever city I find myself in, chances are, there is a JCU alumnus there that can show me around, meet me for coffee, or spend the day with me.
Last week, I had the opportunity to travel back to the United States from Serbia for a quick vacation. My sister recently had a baby, so my husband and I planned to fly to Florida to spend some time with family. However, when our JCU friends called us from California, we decided to fly a little out of our way to reunite with them.
We flew across the country to visit some of our best friends. Although we were in a new city and a somewhat foreign country, we immediately felt at home. The best part is that I got to spend time with my former JCU roommate and closest friend. We drove around Los Angeles, caught each other up on our lives, and reminisced about the day we met.
We met each other on the first day of the Gianicolo Residence move-in during our freshman orientation in Fall 2012. We immediately hit it off and ended up living together for the next three years. She was a bridesmaid at my wedding, we traveled the world together, and now we are friends for life. The flight across the country was definitely worth it.
I have learned that I can truly find "home" anywhere because when I am with JCU friends and alumni, I am with family.
Alexa Vujaklija (Shearer)
Class of 2015
Communications major
Grew up in the United States, Germany, the Republic of Georgia, Russia, and Bulgaria
