Lauren Watson
Italian Class of 2021
What was your major/minor? Why did you choose it?
I double majored in Italian and Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity and minored in English. I chose my science major to prepare me for veterinary school and because it was the branch of biology that interested me the most. I chose Italian to learn the language, as it meant so much to me and my identity on a personal level as an Italian-American. I chose English because I also have a passion for English language and literature.
What are you up to now?
I am now studying full-time in a Masters of Arts in Italian program at Middlebury College. I am currently abroad in Florence, Italy, studying at Middlebury's Florence campus and at the University of Florence. I will graduate from the program with an M.A. in Italian with an emphasis in Culture in August 2026 after one more semester at Middlebury's Vermont campus. Beyond Italian, I graduated with my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from UC Davis in May 2025, am a licensed veterinarian in the state of Vermont, and am currently submitting applications for residency!
How did your experience at UC Davis prepare you for the next step in your academic and professional journey?
I am so grateful for my time in the Italian department at UC Davis because it brought me closer to my culture and my lifelong dream of speaking Italian and prepared me to continue my Italian studies after undergrad. During my time in the Italian department, we received several emails about the Middlebury Language School from Professor Subialka. I had always dreamt of pursuing a graduate degree in Italian, but knowing that I was pursuing veterinary school, I never thought it was possible. A year and a half into vet school, I missed studying Italian so much that I signed up for the Middlebury summer immersion program. Because I had a bachelor’s in Italian, Middlebury offered me a spot in their master's program with the full financial aid package.
Studying Italian at UC Davis made all of this possible. Without the undergraduate degree I earned from UC Davis, and without the strong foundation in Italian provided to me from UCD's Italian department, I simply would not be here pursuing my Masters in Italian with Middlebury College and the University of Florence. I plan to move to Italy one day and work internationally as a veterinarian. UC Davis Italian helped me grow academically, professionally, and personally! Special shout-out to Professor Subialka who sent us Middlebury Language Schools emails and set me on this course!
What's your advice for someone considering your major?
Majoring in Italian at UC Davis was the best decision I've ever made. The faculty are all so kind and they care about their students. The classes are fun and creative, as they represent each professor's personal interests and passions. The department is small enough that the professors and students become like a family and it's easy to get the help you need, especially with the quarterly movie night, weekly free tutoring, C.I.A.O. Club events, and more. I highly encourage anyone interested in learning Italian to start their language journey with the UC Davis Italian department.
You won't regret it! Languages and literature are passions for many of us - whether you want to earn a PhD in the humanities or become a veterinary specialist like me! You never know where life will take you when you allow yourself to pursue your truest, deepest interests.
What was your favorite part of your undergraduate program here?
Knowing I was pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, I was both excited and obligated to complete a science degree in undergrad. While I loved my EEB major, I always felt that I needed a mental escape from STEM courses. I dreamt of learning Italian from the time I was a child and chose to commit to Italian as my hobby. After several years, I was highly invested and making progress in the language, as well as having so much fun, that I added Italian as my second major. Taking Italian courses transcended the classroom for me; it became my hobby, my happy place, and part of my identity. I was fulfilling the dream my younger self always wanted. Almost everyone in the major was double majoring, but we all felt the same draw to the language: born not from obligation, but from pure excitement and enjoyment of the material we were learning. We really became a family in the Italian department despite our diverse backgrounds and other academic pursuits.
Studying abroad was one of my favorite experiences during undergraduate. I attended Oxford Portal to Fantasy in 2017 and studied British Literature under Dr. Karma Waltonen (the program is now called "Oxford on Film"). I then attended World Cinema and the European Film Festival in 2019 and was able to use my Italian abroad in Italy and Switzerland.
What are you most proud of from your undergrad experience?
I am proud of staying true to my passions and following my instincts. No one understood why I was taking Italian, why I added the Italian major late in my undergrad education, or why I took an extra year to complete the double major. I wanted to learn Italian so badly, and I knew that my interests were multifaceted and well-rounded. But I did what I felt in my soul needed to be done, and look at where it led me! I took every opportunity I was given during undergrad and graduated later than expected. I know that I'd have a much different life if I had just sped through undergrad without pursuing other fields outside of science, which was my original plan...and that's not the life I'd want to be living right now.
Do you have a professor or a class you want to shout out?
All of the professors are phenomenal. Dr. Jay Grossi is the kindest, most caring, fun teacher for the introductory language courses. Dr. Grace Delmolino crafts the most interesting course topics, and her Dante course (ITA 113) is a must-take that truly changed my life.
What were you involved in outside of class (clubs, internships, etc.)?
I was involved in the Mercer Veterinary Clinic, C.I.A.O. Club, Pre-Vet Students Supporting Diversity (PSSD), and was a peer advisor for the College of Biological Sciences.
Anything else you want to share?
I never thought I would be pursuing a graduate degree in Italian, especially as a veterinarian. It went from a childhood dream, to starting to learn the language during undergrad, to adding a second major in it, to graduating with a BA in Italian, to now pursuing a graduate degree. One small decision to follow my heart has set my entire life on a new course. You can do the same!