Students hear about study abroad all the time, but most don’t think it’s a possibility. If you are debating whether or not to do it, take some advice and say yes. Ask your parents, you never know what they might say. Anyone who’s gone will tell you it’s worth it. If you need some reasons to do it, here are a few big ones:
1. You experience a culture on a more personal level.
Going on vacation you see another country from a tourist point of view, the nice beaches and fancy restaurants, but when you live in another place for an extended period of time you see the place in more personal way. You create relationships with the people that live there and how they go about living life. You notice the differences and the similarities that they have compared to you. After a while you become part of the daily life, learning the language and your way around. The place you stay will earn a special spot in your heart.
“My favorite part [of studying abroad] is being immersed in another culture. We are used to attending class, but then after class you step outside and suddenly you’re no longer in your college town. People are speaking Italian around you and whipping by on scooters. The best thing is when someone comes up and asks you for directions because they think you are a local. Just getting to the point that shop clerks and servers recognize and greet me is an amazing feeling.” – Melissa Thomas from University of Virginia
2. You learn more about yourself.
By going abroad, alone or with a friend, you are able to let go all of your past stereotypes and just be yourself. You can be whoever you want and aside from doing your homework, do whatever you want. There’s no one there to tell you how to act, you make all your own decisions and in turn grow up. Everything you do is a way to learn about yourself and interacting with others. You have time to think about what you want from your life and who you want to be when you go back home. You won’t be the same when you go back, you have more experiences and you’ve seen what it’s like to live with no strings attached.
3. You meet amazing people from all over the world.
Obviously going to another country, you will meet people who live there, but you also have an opportunity to meet people from all over. Living in Europe, you meet people from every country imaginable, but also people from the US. Going abroad alone allows you to meet students from colleges all over the states who enjoy the same things as you. Traveling through a new country helps you form a special bond with people. It’s crazy the connections you’ll make from the random people on the streets or in stores. Just by smiling and being friendly, you can make new friends from anywhere and everywhere.
“My favorite part [of studying abroad] has been getting to meet new people. I have absolutely loved traveling all over Italy with so many people that I would not have known without studying abroad.” –Emily Callahan from Miami University
4. You really have a chance to go outside your comfort zone.
To experience life you have to try new things and take on adventures. Being in a different country forces you to go outside your comfort zone and do things you would never have regularly do. Maybe it’s talk to a stranger who doesn’t completely understand English, try food that’s not served in the US or navigate a city without your phone. Each adventure, whether you like it or not, will help you grow and give you a good story to tell. There are some things you can’t do or see in America and by going abroad you have a chance to experience it.
5. You gain a new appreciation for life.
Often we get so caught up in life, we forget to stop and just live. We live in a fast pace world, that is easy to so involved in it that we lose our spirit. Abroad you are able to detach from everything going on in life and live simply. You can put your phone down and actually talk to people making real connections. You are in a new place, so you want to spend your time doing everything you want. You’re not on a strict schedule so you don’t have to rush and are able to relax. You also realize the things you take for granted at home, like free water or your family. You see the people who make an effort to stay in touch and the ones who don’t. It’s like a pause button on life where you can reconnect with your passions.
“My favorite part has been walking by important landmarks several times. They are now an everyday occurrence. It’s made me stop and realize how important it is to stop and think about where I am, who I am, and the people who have been where I am standing. I have been challenging myself to really take each moment and think about how amazing it is to have these fantastic experiences.” –Emily Rowan from Miami University
Most importantly you get a chance to adventure and have fun. The memories you make abroad will stay with you forever and you’ll make life-long friends. You will go back home feeling completely different, maybe a little bit wiser or more open to people around you. Whether you go for two weeks or a year, take a chance and study abroad. Go to the country you have always dreamed of visiting like Barcelona, Rome, or London. Not only will you learn more than any classroom could teach you, gain experience employers will love, but you will fall in love with a new place. You have your whole life to work and have internships, live while you’re young. Trust me and hundreds of other students, it’s the best decision you’ll ever make.
