Kids Today Revisited: Lessons From Studying Abroad in Rome |
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Young people are capable of extraordinary things when inspired and given the chance.
A class on the psychology of living provides valuable insights and perspectives on young people.
The big ideas of this course were particularly meaningful during a semester abroad in Rome, Italy.
I recently spent the 2026 Spring Semester with 60 students from our Washington, D.C., campus who participated in a semester abroad at the CatholicU Rome Center in Italy. Situated in Trastevere—a stunning Roman suburb that overlooks “The Eternal City”—I lived with 19- to 20-year-old sophomores and juniors and taught two of my favorite courses, “Clinical Psychology” and the “Psychology of Living.” Any semester abroad in Rome promises incredible experiences; the opportunity to share this adventure with our students was extraordinary. We ate together, went on excursions, worshipped together, and had many long talks after dinner that would never have happened back home. The Psychology of Living course was especially well-suited to enhance the semester abroad experience in countless ways.
PSY 225 met on Tuesday afternoons with 19 students. Most were psychology majors but other majors were in the mix. The curriculum was similar to an earlier version of the class focusing on: lessons from suicidology, existential philosophy, the psychology of awe, life as a journey, the unconscious, intentionality, cultivating perspective, mental health, possible lives, love/relationships, grit, mindsets, spirituality/faith, values, purpose, and meaning—essentially what makes life worth living.
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