A last-minute application that fell on our desk just hours before our deadline turned out to be a life-changing decision for Sofia. Transcending borders to finish her high school with Itchen College, her academic journey at Itchen College would shape her future.
Sofia chose to study History, English Literature, and Spanish — subjects that, for her, felt like a natural fit. She thrived particularly in Spanish, where she achieved an impressive A*, and has now gone on to study Interpretation and Translation at the prestigious Università di Perugia. What made her experience at Itchen special was the way her subjects complemented one another. “The cross-curricular connections really helped me grow academically,” she said. “Literature gave me the research and source analysis skills I could use in History, and Spanish included lots of literary modules that linked everything together.” This holistic approach, paired with passionate teachers who truly loved their subjects, made her learning experience both rich and rewarding.
Looking back, Sofia recognises how strongly her time at Itchen prepared her for university life. “The method at Itchen got us used to independent study and how to get organised with the amount of work to do,” she explained. That experience has translated seamlessly into her studies at the Università di Perugia. “At university it works exactly the same, so it was a real advantage for me. The Italian high school system is very different — at Itchen, however, we immersed ourselves in the mindset you need for university much earlier.”
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Now studying Foreign Languages and Literature, Sofia is currently exploring the Theory of Translating and Interpreting across Italian, Spanish, and English, with plans to relearn Chinese in the next academic year. As her degree progresses, she will be able to choose a specialisation in her third year — something she is already thinking about carefully. While translators focus on written texts and often work on commission, interpreters operate in the moment, translating live speech, sometimes in front of an audience. Drawn to the energy and human connection of live communication, Sofia hopes to become an interpreter. “You know how much I love interacting, speaking, and using languages, right?” she chuckles.
Despite moving on to this exciting new chapter, her connection to
Itchen remains strong — she describes it fondly as her “second home” and hopes to return to visit in the future. Staying with the same host family for her entire programme, Sofia found stability and a sense of belonging that made all the difference during her time abroad. Sofia’s journey is a testament to the power of pursuing what you love, embracing new challenges, and finding balance along the way. Her advice for future students? Stay open to the full experience — both academically and personally — because it’s all part of the journey.
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History
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English Literature
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Spanish
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