WESTFIELD, MA- After hitting .339 while recording 22 walks on the 2017 season, Westfield State University outfielder Brianna Tortora spent the 2017 fall semester in Italy in what she called "a once in a lifetime experience".

"Italy was a great opportunity for me to realize who I am, and while realizing that, you kind of take a step back and think of everything in life that you should be very thankful for. One of those things that I kind of took for granted and was never truly thankful for was softball. I started to realize that not everyone is given the opportunity to play softball, and I need to play or practice like it is an absolute blessing."

Last season the Owls finished 19-18 and came in second place in last years Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament after losing a tight one to Framingham State. "Although that wasn't the outcome I was expecting or hoping for, it was a learning experience that I can't even begin to describe. That last loss instilled the fire in our hearts to want to be MASCAC champions this year even more than we wanted it last year", said Tortora.

"The best softball experience here at Westfield that I can think of is the opportunity that I was provided to meet the best teammates/friends/sisters that I could ever ask for. These girls have had the biggest impact on my life and I honestly don't know what softball or college would be like without them".

Tortora believes that whoever has a chance to study abroad should do it because "it is one of the greatest opportunities to figure out who you are and where you want to go in life". If she was given another opportunity to do it she would, "because overall, that was the most eye opening experience I could have ever asked for".

When Tortora was asked about the similarities and differences between Europe and back home, there were many differences she had to talk about such as not having a car. "No matter how far classes, the best gelato places or the best shopping areas were I would walk, but walking in Europe is a lot different than walking anywhere in New England."

"To start, the views you will see while walking are jaw dropping, especially in Florence, and on top of that I believe that Europeans are much friendlier than people back home. Everyone wants to have a conversation with you and get to know you. There is a slight language barrier but the majority of people know enough English to get them by. The biggest difference I noticed was the food. All over Europe it is so fresh it is unbelievable, none of their food is processed like it is back home."

"Westfield State has stretched it's limits to help me with life abroad … Westfield was the start of the pathway to studying abroad and without my experience here I think my experience would have been very different."

Brianna went on to talk about how some of the little things helped her prepare for life abroad. When she first moved away from home to Westfield in her freshman year of college, she met new people and had to adjust to her surroundings. This is all part of a college experience that she believes played a big role in helping her with life abroad. Throughout this experience she said "Westfield faculty, staff and the friends I have made here have all had an impact on my experience."

Fellow students may wonder about what it is like to take classes in another country; are they easier, harder, or the same? "The classes in Italy were just as challenging as they are here at Westfield State and I found that to be very helpful when coming back home for spring semester", said Tortora. "It was a continuation of what I have been doing for the past two years and it kept me on the exact track where I needed and wanted to be". Tortora went on to add, "They knew how to make certain adjustments that would provide the best opportunity for success".

By Michael Witts, Sports Information Intern