Haia Lerner ‘26.
Haia and her classmate, Addison Beard, on a field trip to Naples, Italy with their SYA class. The SYA class took other field trips to destinations in Italy such as Florence, Terracina, and Rome.
Haia Lerner ‘26 returned to Woodward Academy for her senior year after a year of studying abroad in Viterbo, Italy. Since she’s been back, she has been able to jump back into her usual routine, and her community has welcomed her with open arms. Although she does miss Italy, Haia is happy to be back with her family and friends stateside. Spending a year abroad in another country is unfamiliar to most Woodward students; however, Haia encourages it.
Haia’s life in Italy was as full as her life here in Georgia. She attended the School Year Abroad (SYA) program in Viterbo. She also attended the local school, Burrati, with her host sister and fellow Americans in the SYA program. Her school day was over between 2 or 3 p.m., but she wouldn’t immediately go home. She would often spend time with her friends in Viterbo, go to cafés, do homework and then take the bus home.
“I’m so glad I did it, and I don’t know why more people don’t do it,” Haia said.
While Haia didn’t talk to her family everyday, she would Facetime them if she was walking home from school or on the weekends. Also, the Lerner family went to visit Haia in December, staying with her and her host family for two weeks. She didn’t forget to keep in touch with her friends from Woodward either.
“We didn’t talk often, but most friendships picked right back off right where they left off,” Haia said.
Haia’s school in Italy was very, very different from Woodward.
“I had a lot more freedom…,” Haia said. “As long as you went to your classes and maintained good grades, you could leave or come back throughout the day whenever you wanted.”
Though Haia loved her time in Italy, she did face some challenges. The program Haia attended didn’t require prior knowledge of the language; the sole purpose of the school she went to was to learn Italian. But that meant that, outside the classroom, she faced a bit of a language barrier. She speaks Spanish, so that made it easier to learn Italian and grow into a fluent speaker.
“Just going [to Italy] knowing nothing, like, not being able to say you’re tired or that you were hungry or anything like that, it just kind of forces you to learn,” Haia said.
Lailah Lerner ‘29 is Haia’s little sister who was upset when Haia left because Haia is a guide for Lailah
“I needed someone to guide me and help me through right and wrong,” Lailah says.
Though she was sad, Lailah says that she “sort of stole Haia’s room” and used it when Haia was gone for the year (apparently, it’s got good design). Still, Lailah is happy that her sister Haia is back–even if she had to give up the room.
“I am happy that Haia was back home… I’m sad that I had to give up her room, but I missed spending time with her.” Lailah said.
Mrs. Traci Lerner, Haia’s and Lailah’s mom who teaches Spanish here at Woodward, says that it was bittersweet for her when Haia left.
“I was really excited for her and I knew it was going to be an amazing experience for her, but I was a little bit nervous because I knew I was going to miss her,” Mrs. Lerner said.
Haia loves being back with her Atlanta family and friends, but she still does miss everything from Italy, especially the attitude towards life. In Italy, according to Haia, the most important thing is “to live” instead of “to work.” And Haia’s journey in Italy isn’t completely over just yet. She’s applying to colleges like John Cabot University and the American University of Rome in Italy.
“I’d go back in a blink of an eye,” Haia said.