Every college student should experience the eye-opening wonders of studying abroad. There is little time in an adult’s life when they can pack up and go to another country for an extended amount of time. Once you graduate, most adults' lives involve marriage, career, baby, house payments, car payments and the terrifying list continues. So, taste life when you can, and you will become a more rounded and cultured adult with -- let’s face it -- some awesome stories to tell at future dinner parties.
It’s great how many college students are studying abroad these days but lets be honest the vast majority go to somewhere located in the Western Europe area with a recent rise in students traveling to Asian countries such as China and South Korea. Students need get out of Western Europe and go somewhere people have never heard of before. And here’s why.
1. There are more scholarship opportunities.
Not every student budgets in a travel abroad experience for their college career so things might get a bit tight when it comes to the expense. The good news is there are tons of scholarship opportunities. And it stands to reason that if you pick a destination that not many others pick that there will be less people applying for that same scholarship and increase your chance of receiving money. Also with fewer participants in the pool the scholarship amounts tend to be higher for more obscure countries.
2. Getting out of your comfort zone.
Europe is highly influenced by American culture and vice versa. The countries of Europe have much of the same cultural practices as America does. You should get the chance to learn about a society totally and completely different than your own. If you’re studying French try going to Haiti or another less popular French-speaking nation. It will teach students a whole different way of how to use what you learn in class out in life. Besides, let’s be honest it’s fun take the crazier option and test yourself. Be bold and remember you will never get these years back, so go embrace the wonders of life you never were there.
3. Going somewhere no has been before.
Explore the world. Go study the rate at which ice is melting at the polar caps, or go study fish migration in a remote part of the world where there are no outside forces, or go study anywhere everyone else is not. You have the chance to make groundbreaking discoveries by writing your own story. You might discover a way to change the world or you might find a way to change your perspective, either way there is always room for bettering the world or oneself.
4. Seeing a culture you couldn’t have believed existed.
The chance to see a society different in every aspect than your own can show you different viewpoints. You may come out with a better sense of purpose for your life. By seeing how others live you can learn to relate to people. This translates into the ability to walk with confidence into an interview and be able to communicate effectively how your travel abroad advanced your communication skills and therefore you now have a passion for something. Witnessing first-hand the strengths and weaknesses of a vastly different culture shows you that not all things have to be the way they are. The best part of America is anyone has the power to enact change.
5. Coming back with a new perspective.
Sure at first no one is going to want to hear you ramble for hours about how your life is changed and how you’re now going to change the world as well. But people will notice your new sense of self and the confidence you now carry with you. You were a trailblazer that will lead others to go on quests of discovery themselves. And I mean, getting college credit for finding confidence and having the best time of your life sounds pretty good to me.
Overall, study abroad can and will broaden who you are and what you’re interested in, you just need to stop following all your friends. Go be yourself somewhere vast and exciting, and you might end up discovering you’re capable of something you never believed you could do.
