For those of you who have either studied abroad, are going to study abroad, or have heard countless friends talk about their study abroad experience, you probably have a fair share of answers to this question.
Still, from social media and fun stories, it may seem that studying abroad is just one big party. No studying gets done, no one goes to classes, and it has become more about how many countries you can squeeze into a mere semester or year. Admittedly, studying abroad is intended to be one of the best times of your life.
And yes, in some cases the classes and work is far less than what you’re exposed to at home, and some people do forget about experiencing the culture and history and instead care only about Instagram and Snapchat. Nevertheless, after studying abroad in the summer and in the fall, I can attest that you will reap many benefits from studying internationally.
Undeniably, the world has become increasingly interconnected, and globalization is not going away. On a practical level, you will have to work with people of dissimilar backgrounds, nationalities, and way of life. It is imperative in the working world to have international experience and to be able to have cross-cultural communication skills.
This will help you become more employable and will look great on a resume. However, don’t just study abroad to get a line on your resume, because if you have that thinking, then you should just stay home.
On a networking and friendship level, you will, of course, meet new people from around the world. You may meet someone from Rwanda, Brazil, France, Armenia, etc. that you wouldn’t have otherwise. You may both share common interests, but your approach and view of life will be different.
This allows you to gain perspectives on their approach to things that you normally wouldn’t have. You can meet people that you can continue to keep in contact with in the future. You may find out about an internship or job opportunity in a different organization or country just by meeting new people and deepening international relationships
On a personal level, studying abroad gives you the validation and confidence to navigate around another part of the world on your own. You are forced to get out of your comfort zone. You are made to experience another way of life, culture, language, and an educational system that differs from your own.
You also have to adapt to what is around you, as your environment isn’t going to change for just you. Lastly, you will see that preconceived stereotypes and notions will disappear once you get to know other people from various parts of the world.
Most importantly, you will grow as a person. You will find out more about yourself and truly see what is important. In the end, you will gain a sense of independence that you hadn’t had before. A semester will fly by you, especially when you’re always on the move.
That is why I think it is essential to really take the time to look around you. If you do that and resist the urge to get swept up in social media/care only about traveling to get a good Instagram photo, you will learn valuable life lessons that will stay with you forever; gaining experience, appreciating what you have, picking yourself up when life throws you a curveball, packing your entire life into a purse, and more.
Studying abroad is intended to be the best time of your life, which does include seeing and doing many, many things in the span of only three months. But, don’t try to travel around the world as fast as you can. Instead, give yourself time to really soak in everything around you, listen and pay attention to what is happening, and above all, stay curious.
