Whether you're thinking about studying abroad, are currently overseas, or have already returned home, there is no denying that the chance to live in a foreign country for a semester is an amazing opportunity.
Of course, with hundreds of countries to choose from, everyone's individual experiences abroad will be unique. And yet, despite these differences, all who study abroad have something in common : it forever shapes the person you are and changes your life completely.
So, how exactly can just a few months overseas change your life for years to come?
1. You will expand your worldview and gain a new way of thinking.
Abroad, you will realize fast that your world is far from being the only one. Being immersed within a new culture will challenge you to reconsider your previous beliefs, values, and attitudes. Maybe the experience will strengthen them, or maybe they will change completely. Regardless, you will be opened up to these new ideas and ways of thinking, making you not only more open and tolerant of the views of others, but also, more flexible in regards to your own. Furthermore, experiencing life abroad will enable you to see your own culture through a new perspective. The way you see yourself, your country, and the world as a whole will undoubtedly change.
2. You will not only learn another language, but gain the all of the benefits that come with it.
There is truly no better way to pick up another language than being completely immersed in it. Being surrounded by it on a daily basis, there is almost no choice but to start learning. For that reason, it is not only the quickest, but most effective way to learn another language.
And why learn another language? The benefits are endless. From expanding access and understanding of different cultures and people, to enhancing cognitive skills and impressing potential employers, there is a world of opportunities that can be opened just by learning another language.
3. Your outlook on relationships will change.
A huge part of the experience abroad is the people you encounter. You are starting fresh again, starting a journey, not quite sure where the road will lead you - and those come out with you on the other side become your friends for years after the experience is over.
Although we might not see most of the people we encounter while abroad again, you will learn that the experiences you share together will never fade regardless of time or distance.
And you will learn that people will come and go, and that's okay. Most often, it is these people who pass in our lives, if only for a fleeting moment, that teach us the most.
4. You will develop skills that a typical classroom setting could never provide.
Being completely immersed in an entirely new culture is both exciting and scary. Every single day is a new opportunity to discover your own strength in the face of the many inevitable obstacles.
You will conquer challenges and solve problems in an unfamiliar setting, thus enabling you to learn how to adapt and respond in an effective way. This is a invaluable skill that you will carry with you for the rest of your life, no matter what country you find yourself living in.
5. You will learn more about yourself than ever before.
No matter how far you travel, you will never be able to escape yourself. And all the struggles of studying abroad: like homesickness, coping under pressure, and overall adjustment force you to reflect inwards and face yourself in a completely new way.
For the first time, you will be experiencing a whole new sort of independence: the type that forces you to think and act on your own in a world completely different than the only one you've known so far.
You will discover a side of yourself that, perhaps has been hidden all along, just waiting to be uncovered.
You will unearth passions, talents, strengths, and most importantly, self- confidence.
You will learn you are stronger than you think, capable of overcoming all the obstacles thrown at you in this chaotic, beautiful adventure that is experiencing life abroad.
