Finding Her Stride: Michela Gritti’s Journey from Italy to UNCP

For Michela “Miki” Gritti, running is more than a sport — it is the force that reshaped her life, carried her across an ocean and helped her discover who she is beyond the finish line.

An international student from Primaluna, a small town about an hour north of Milan, Gritti is a senior journalism major at UNC Pembroke and a long-distance runner for the Braves' cross country and track and field team. She came to UNCP on an athletic scholarship, drawn not only by the opportunity to run, but by a campus community she describes as deeply personal and welcoming.

“My athletic experience has been great,” Gritti said. “Running changed my life. Without running, I would not be here.”

Gritti was not a runner growing up. Before COVID-19, her athletic interests centered on volleyball, cheerleading and dance. But when Italy entered strict lockdowns during the pandemic and residents could not leave their homes, running became her only outlet.

“The only thing I had was running,” she said.

Two years later, she competed in a race in Venice. Shortly after, she received a message on Instagram from an agency that helps international athletes connect with U.S. universities.

“They said, ‘with your time and your performance, we can find a university that would sponsor your studies in the U.S.,'” Gritti said. “I jumped on it.”

She ultimately fielded interest from 15 to 20 schools, including some NCAA Division I programs. But it was UNCP that stood out.

“Other universities were expensive or only offered partial scholarships,” she said. “And I didn't feel a relationship with the coaches. Here, it was different, and I loved that it was a university founded by American Indians.”

Gritti said UNCP's size and sense of belonging were deciding factors.

“I am a person who needs people,” she said. “I didn't want to be in classes of 200 students. I needed a smaller setting, especially because of the language barrier.”

Still, she found support quickly — from professors who offered patience and understanding, from advisors at the Center for Student Success and from administrators who welcomed her from day one.

“I met the chancellor on my first day here,” she said. “Everyone was so helpful.”

Setbacks and Strength

Athletics, however, did not come without hardship. Gritti suffered multiple injuries related to osteoporosis, including three stress fractures in her legs, as well as injuries to her hip and pelvis. She missed her first indoor and outdoor seasons entirely.

“Mentally, it was devastating,” she said. “I was crying every day. I couldn't go to practice. I couldn't watch people running.”

Running had been her identity.

“When I first came here, athletics was my life,” she said. “Without running, my life was disrupted.”

But that disruption forced growth.

Today, Gritti is one of the most involved students on campus. She works multiple jobs and internships, including as a marketing manager intern for Global Engagement, a student photographer, the editor for The Pine Needle, a yoga instructor, an assistant technician at the Givens Performing Arts Center and a resident advisor. She also serves as a senator in the Student Government Association and as a Chancellor's Ambassador.

“Now, I know exactly where I want my energy to go,” she said. “Thanks to this community.”

Dr. Darlene Natale, one of Gritti's professors and advisor to The Pine Needle student newspaper, said Gritti stands out for her energy, initiative and commitment to journalism. Natale credited Gritti with helping transform the newspaper since joining the staff as an editor in fall 2025, noting her leadership in expanding the print edition and keeping the online version updated with student-produced stories.

She praised Gritti's curiosity and classroom engagement, describing her as a student who elevates discussion and draws in her peers through thoughtful questions and commentary.

“Miki has a bright future because she is intelligent and willing to put in the work needed to succeed,” Natale said. “She never skips class or shortchanges an assignment, and she brings that same level of curiosity and dedication to both her reporting and the classroom.”

In turn, Gritti credits UNCP with helping her develop an identity beyond running.

“When I first came, I didn't really know who I was,” she said. “Now I know my passions. I know what makes me happy. Running is still part of me, but I see there is a world outside.”

Gritti is scheduled to graduate in May after completing her degree in just three years, often carrying 21 to 22 credit hours each semester. Journalism, she said, felt like a natural fit.

“I love talking,” she said. “Every person you meet has a story to share.”

Already fluent in Italian, English, Spanish and French — with knowledge of her hometown dialect and beginner Chinese — Gritti plans to continue studying languages. After graduation, she plans to return to Italy to pursue a second bachelor's degree in Arabic and Chinese at a university in Venice.

Her long-term goal is to work as an international manager for a major fashion brand such as Gucci or Armani, attending events around the world.

“I wake up each day with the desire to take everything positively,” she said.