CELOP Alumni: Where are They Now? Gianluca Follega, Italy

in Highlight
December 18th, 2017

1. What is your name?

Gianluca Follega

2. Where are you from?

I’m from Rome, Italy.

3. Where do you live now?

I still live in Rome.

4. When and for how long did you study at CELOP?

I studied at CELOP in 2014 during the summer for four weeks.

5. Why did you choose CELOP?

Because I really wanted to improve my English and at the same time have an experience abroad, possibly in the USA since I had never been there before. So I searched on my University’s website and I found CELOP and all the references were so good that I couldn’t have any doubts about it that was the right place!!

6. What were some of the things you liked most about CELOP? Do you have a favorite memory?

The thing I liked most about CELOP was the way classes were structured. I liked the way the teachers made all the students participate to the class because I think that this helped a lot to get us to know each other and to create a sort of “family” so that no one was afraid to make a mistake or say something wrong, we were all there to learn. I also enjoyed particularly a day when we all had to prepare a five-minute talk to share something about our country, I think that was really interesting because I could learn something new about other cultures that I would had never known in other ways.

7. In what ways did CELOP help you prepare for what you are doing now?

I think that CELOP helped me not only for what I’m doing now but for everything I will do. I’m not just talking about English, that nowadays is really important, but about all the experience itself. Studying at CELOP allowed me to interact with people from all over the world and I believe that the way the classes are structured helps you to reach a deeper knowledge of all the different cultures, because all the classes are very interactive.

8. Where did you attend college for your undergraduate degree? What was your major and when did you graduate?

For both my undergraduate degree and my major I studied at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Rome. I graduated in Economics and Management in October 2015.

Few months ago, in July, I also finished an Executive Master, that is just a three months course, in Compliance, Management, Finance, Risk and Auditing at Università La Sapienza of Rome.

9. Where are you working/studying now?

Now I’m working for a company “OASI Spa” that produces a software for anti-money laundering that is sold to banks. My job is to analyze if there are any problems with the correct functioning of the software and if there are solve them.

10. Tell us about what you want to do in the future. What is your dream job?

I would like to start my own company. At the moment, while I’m working for OASI Spa, I’m trying to create a startup with a friend. The startup is about public transportation and to be more specific about trains.

11. What was your favorite thing to do in Boston?

I really liked walking around the city center or little Italy and go out for dinner with friends

12. What was your favorite restaurant in Boston?

I tried many restaurants in Boston but I have to say that my favorite one was for sure Finn’s because I love Japanese food, but if I have to choose a typical America restaurant I would probably say Joe’s!

13. What would you tell someone who is thinking about studying at CELOP but is unsure?

Don’t think too much and just go!! It’ll be an awesome experience and the best opportunity you will ever have to improve your English, know many people with different cultures and visit an incredible city. Don’t let it go!!