Written by Mustafa Abdul Haque ’27
Syra Castillo is a senior at Southern Methodist University, majoring in English with a Creative Writing Specialization and double-minoring in Italian and Journalism. This summer, she pursued her creative project in Italy with an Engaged Learning Fellowship.
A Project Rooted in Passion
Syra worked closely with her mentor, Dr. Aria Cabot, Director of SMU-in-Tuscany, Director of the World Languages and Literatures Teaching and Technology Center to design a project that fused her love of antiquity with her passion for writing.
I told Dr. Cabot that I have always been interested in the Classics and in Ancient Rome. She wanted to make sure that I came up with a project idea that would focus on my love for antiquity while also showing my love for writing. So, we decided that conducting 2D and 3D videography of ancient sites and creating a blog would be perfect.
Capturing Italy
While studying in Florence and traveling across Italy, Syra documented daily life, architecture, and culture. She then shared her work online.
My ELF project was focused on taking 2D and 3D videos and pictures of sights in Florence and other cities in Italy. I would carry my camera with me 24/7 and would take videos and pictures of churches, piazze, markets, museums, my classroom, streets, and everything that I found interesting. I would then upload these images/videos to the online platform Professor Cabot provided me with. In addition to this, I was able to implement an English/Journalistic aspect to my project. I started an online blog that was in English and Italian highlighting my time in Italy.
The Power of Mentorship
Regular check-ins and editorial support from Professor Cabot anchored the project and helped Syra grow as a writer and creator.
My mentor, Aria Cabot, helped me tremendously. She edited my blog and made sure to check in with me once a week while we were abroad. Just knowing that she was there to help me with any concerns or questions I might have, helped calm my nerves a lot.
Advice for Future Fellows
Syra encourages prospective ELF applicants to trust their ideas and lean on supportive mentors.
Have confidence in your proposal and your interview. One of the things that I found the most helpful was knowing that my mentor had my back and believed in my proposal. While the interview and proposal experience might be daunting, at the end of the day, the rewards far outweigh the nervousness.
Syra Castillo’s Engaged Learning Fellowship shows how SMU students can blend academic passions, creative expression, and global experiences into meaningful work that extends far beyond the classroom. View her project at https://syrainflorence.wordpress.com/.