Foreign exchange student earns high school diploma in one year

Traveling across the world can be an adventure.

However, for one student studying abroad here in Yuma, she traveled across the world to kickstart a dream.

Benedetta Villano is a 17-year-old exchange student from Italy.

Also known as Benni, she came to the United States ready to share her culture with others, even the meaning behind her name.

“Benedetta means blessed, and my mom really liked that name and my dad like that name too. My last name is Villano, that means villain,” said Villano.

Many people dream of traveling to Benni’s home country but for Benni traveling to America was the dream.

“The United States is like the American dream so everyone is welcome, and you guys are kind of the progress in the world, and studying abroad gives you a different point of you it opens your mind,” said Villano.

For Benni, culture shock never had time to affect her, except for when it came to the food.

“The culture shock, I didn’t feel it. I mean maybe sometimes when I see pizza and ranch that’s kind of ‘ew’ but, I’m Italian pizza is my thing,” said Villano.

Thanks to the International Student Exchange Program and her hard work, Benni was able to get a scholarship to travel to Yuma.

Benni remembers her feeling of excitement when she learned she would be traveling to Yuma.

“I couldn’t sleep for one week because I was so excited. I got an email, and as soon as I read the email I went to my parent’s bedroom, I opened the door and I said ‘I’m going to Yuma Arizona!’ and my mom said ‘what?’ and my dad said ‘Yuma? The one from the movie?'” said Villano.

In Italy, Benni was told it would be difficult for her to graduate from an American high school, especially since Gila Ridge High School was not able to accept Benni’s credits from Italy.

“The first thing was like I am not going to graduate I know that,” said Villano.

Benni refused to believe she would not be able to graduate, however.

Even after her counselor advised her of the amount of work it would take, 22 credits to be exact, Benni was determined.

“[My counselor told me about] a program, it’s called A+ and [it has] all the classes that you need to get all of the credits you need to graduate and I said ‘OK sure I mean give it to me,'” said Villano.

She came to love the opportunities she gained by being able to connect with younger peers.

“I like the fact that even if you are ‘young’, you can take classes that you’re not supposed to just because you’re smart enough to take them,” said Villano.

While studying at Gila Ridge High School, Benni was able to experience the “American” sport of cheerleading.

“We do have some cheerleading squads but not like the American ones. Then I came here with the idea of cheerleaders like ‘hey hey hey’ during football season then I came here and we started stunting and doing cradles and crazy stuff with fliers in the air and I said ‘OK this is different I didn’t expect that’,” said Villano.

After graduating here in Yuma, Benni plans to begin her studies at a university to become a doctor.

She said she was inspired by her grandfather to work as a surgeon.

“I have a very different perspective of my life since my grandpa died because it’s the first time I saw that death is kind of close. My grandpa died because of cancer, and I remember I told him, grandpa I’m going to try to cure that for you,” said Villano.

Because Benni was able to graduate both in the states and in Italy, she will be able to bypass tests other students would normally have to take in order to apply to colleges outside of Italy.

She said she is thankful that English is a second language for her because it opens up the number of universities she can attend.

“The one that I want to go is the University of Bologna and that’s because they have the possibility to do courses in English. I’m trying to figure out what I need to be there and how I can win a scholarship because I want to do it by myself,” said Villano.

Family has always been a number one priority for Benni and she is thankful to have parental support both in her home in Italy and in Yuma.

“Having a family that supports you is very important. That’s why I’m so glad that I have my family back in Italy and I have my family here in the United States. My host family, having this relationship that we build together, was very important for me not to feel like I was alone or too far away from home.”

To other students wanting to study abroad, Benni encourages you to take a leap of faith.

“It’s an experience that changes your life and whether you are ready or not as soon as you go out of your comfort zone then you will be ready. It makes me happy how a single person can change a lot of lives and that’s probably the best thing about being an exchange student or being someone new.”