At John Cabot University in Rome, student life goes far beyond the classroom. Through clubs, organizations, and events organized by our Student Life Office, students build friendships, explore passions, and discover new perspectives while studying at JCU.
In this post, senior Eric Linari, a Communications major from Boston, Massachusetts shares how joining the Film Appreciation Club helped him find community, confidence, and belonging while earning his degree at an American university in Italy.
Discovering Student Life at JCU
Let’s not sugarcoat it - moving across the world to Rome may seem like a frightening ideal at first! Believe me, when I first came out to John Cabot almost 4 years ago, I was terrified. Maybe, I thought, some more planning could have gone into this. However, there are some actions I took to help make my transition easier and quality of life better! A huge part of this for me was trying to expand my social life.
Lo and behold that same week, I received an email from JCU Student Life, advertising the upcoming student life fair. I had never been one particularly interested in student clubs or activities, but a friend of mine convinced me to go. Hesitantly, I decided to show up, mostly with the idea of wanting to just look around. I didn’t know it then, but that decision would completely change my experience at JCU.
At the fair, at first I was slightly overwhelmed. Every way you turned your head, there were faces, all with the same welcoming smile, promoting their own club. The options and choices were almost overwhelming, from athletics, to volunteer groups, to cultural associations. However, one stand in particular caught my eye.
The First Screening That Hooked Me
In one of the far corners of the courtyard stood a group of students gathered around a table decorated with vintage movie posters and popcorn buckets. The sign read “Film Appreciation Club.”
I’ve always loved movies, not necessarily in an academic or critical way, but more so as a way to kill time. So when one of the club members enthusiastically told me that they held discussions every week based on their chosen film, I initially hesitated. I had never really done any sort of deep, involved conversations on movies. However, all my doubts fizzled away as I wrote my name down on the sign-up sheet.
More Than Movie Nights
As I became more involved, I realized the Film Appreciation Club was so much more than just watching and discussing movies. It was about community, culture, and creativity.
Each week, we dove into a vast film selection, from Japanese animation to French New Wave to contemporary American indies. I found myself becoming more and more comfortable with the members of the club, and broadening my horizons both cinematically and socially.
Every Wednesday, we would meet on campus to discuss what we had watched during the week prior. Our conversations could bring up some mixed viewpoints, but they always remained respectful, thoughtful, and passionate. Those post-screening conversations often spilled into late-night gelato runs or strolls through Trastevere, the neighborhood where our campus is nestled.
It didn’t matter what major you were or where you were from, everyone’s opinion mattered. For me, that was refreshing. It reminded me that film criticism isn’t just for scholars or experts; it’s for anyone who’s ever felt something while watching a story unfold on screen.
Learning to See Differently
Being part of the club also changed how I watched films. Before joining, I rarely thought about cinematography, symbolism, or the director’s hidden meaning behind a scene, I mostly had just found joy in watching the story at surface level. But hearing other students dissect a scene’s lighting or the rhythm of a film’s editing opened my eyes to the craft behind it all.
We often collaborated with different student clubs, and did joint movie screenings relating to topics that fit within both of our clubs interests, helping to further our knowledge on subjects we were not as familiar with.
As my time within the club continued, eventually I was asked if I was interested in joining the board of the club, as the treasurer! I jumped on this opportunity, and for the last 2 years have gotten to immerse myself even deeper within the club, and gained a lot of professional insight.
Rome: The Perfect Backdrop for Film Lovers
Of course, being in Rome made the experience even richer. The city itself feels cinematic - from the golden light hitting the Tiber River at sunset to the narrow streets that look straight out of an old Fellini movie.
Being in such a diverse and inclusive environment at Film Appreciation Club also gave agency to some peoples’ voices that helped to usher in thought provoking and moving dialogues. Members such as myself got to hear perspectives we had never prior heard, from countries we were unfamiliar with, and that experience was one very moving to me.
Finding Belonging in a New World
When I look back now, four years later, I can see how much the Film Appreciation Club shaped my time at John Cabot University. It gave me friends, confidence, and a sense of belonging in a city that once felt intimidating.
It also gave me a new way of seeing - not only films, but life itself. Each story we watched, discussed, or created became part of a bigger narrative: our own story as students living, learning, and growing in one of the most cinematic cities in the world.
For anyone feeling nervous about starting fresh in a new country, I always say this: find your people. At JCU, I found mine through film, through laughter, through late-night debates, through story, and through community.
Moving to Rome might have been scary at first, but the Film Appreciation Club turned that fear into a beautiful sense of friendship, camaraderie, and belonging.
Discover Your Own Rome
Student clubs like the Film Appreciation Club are an important part of student life at John Cabot University, helping students connect, explore interests, and grow both personally and professionally while studying in Rome.
Whether you’re passionate about film, sports, volunteering, or culture, JCU offers opportunities to build community and make your study abroad or undergraduate experience unforgettable.
👉 Learn more about studying at John Cabot University and discover how student life, internships, and academics come together to create a truly transformative university experience. If you’re ready to explore Rome and earn your undergraduate degree in Italy, visit our Admissions page or email admissions@johncabot.edu to schedule an informational call!
