CHICAGO (July 5, 2017) – At a time when a lot of students are enjoying a break from school or are gaining work experience, Loyola University Chicago pitcher Kiley Jones (Valparaiso, Ind./Portage) spent part of her summer studying abroad. Jones, a righthander who recorded 19 wins and helped Loyola to its most successful season since 2013, took classes at Loyola's John Felice Center in Rome this summer.
 
Below, Jones shares her thoughts on the experience in Italy.
 
Studying abroad has been one of the best things I have ever done. I took two classes for 6 total credits; a honors literature course about international migration and a philosophy course on aesthetics. Every time I wanted to complain about homework and writing papers I kept remembering that right down the road was the Colosseum and the Vatican; it's hard to be stressed about school when doing it in such an incredible city.
 
I learned a lot about myself while being in Italy. I learned that exploring one of the most historical cities in the world alone can be one of the most eye-opening and inspirational things you could do. I also learned that I have a sense of the direction that is so bad that I wouldn't be able to get myself out of a wet paper bag, so I also got good at getting lost in such an incredible city. 
 
One of my favorite parts was walking around the city around sunset. The sunsets in Rome were something like I have never seen before, so beautiful and colorful. Being in such a historic city as that, really made me feel small. It reminded me that there is so much more to this world that I have absolutely no idea about, and I love that. I love knowing that no matter how much I think i have experienced or seen, there is always so much more.