During the three months I spent in Rome with ILS, I can’t say that my first priority was schoolwork. From what I have gathered about other study abroad programs, I wouldn’t say that their main attraction is rigorous academics either. What attracted me to ILS, aside from six fellow crusaders going, was the leadership aspect of the program.

Any other American I met in Rome, Florence, Venice, Assisi, etc. was studying art history. While I might be interested in the striking magnificence of Michelangelo’s statue of David or the feeling of awe from “The Last Judgment”, a study of those works of art would not have fulfilled the curricular requirements of my theology major. However, a study of the art of leadership would not only fulfill necessary requirements, it would provide for a fresh approach to theology making it quite applicable to my career.

The balanced approach of the ILS curriculum gave me very practical ways in which I could apply leadership techniques to real life situations. One exercise in public speaking taught me the importance of taking the opponent’s view into account during a debate. Also, through the round tables and seminars that focused on types of leadership, I learned to take a servant leader approach. In youth ministry, this will help me to put my teens first and look to their needs. In relationships, it will help me to put my friends and family first. The lessons learned will help me to deal with life’s situations in a very concrete way. That is something that a specialized curriculum could not have taught me.

Whether it is looking into the culture of an ancient Roman civilization, praying before the very bones of St. Peter himself, or learning about how to represent truth as a news analyst for FOX, the ILS program has given me an invaluable set of tools that are applicable wherever life takes me.

Matt Merry

Belmont Abbey 2010