Top 10 Reasons I’m studying abroad:
These are the top 10 reasons to study abroad, altered to fit my perspectives, and put in semi-prioritized order. (One reason was omitted because it wasn’t relevant to my experience.)
1. Learn about yourself and gain independence.
Studying abroad is a chance to challenge yourself with situations that will test your abilities to adapt and learn. You may even find yourself questioning some of your most long-held beliefs.
For me, it's also sort of a test to see if I can be away from my family and friends for that long; going to college was unexpectedly really tough for me, so I'm hoping to overcome that dependence.
2. Experience unique academic structures.
Studying abroad offers you the opportunity to escape the monotony of lectures . Do your biology research in Costa Rica or a business internship for a Japanese railroad company; intern with the British Parliament, or design your own academic fieldwork project in the country of your choice.
For the last 4 weeks of my program, I'll be doing an Independent Field Study. I'll hopefully be making a documentary about the uses of art as therapy in Senegal, which would be beneficial not only to my Art Therapy studies, but also my interest in Time Media and Video.
3. Learn a language in the country where it is spoken.
The only way to truly become fluent in a language is to be immersed in it. If you've studied a language for several years and want to gain fluency, study abroad. If you haven't studied languages at all, don't worry - almost half of all Study Abroad programs don't require any foreign language before you go abroad.
I'm studying abroad partly to gain fluency in French, which I've studied since 7th grade. I'll also be learning introductory Wolof!
4. Studying abroad is a life-altering experience!
Studying and living in a different culture will help you see the world from a completely different perspective.
I've been in a few different countries throughout my life and have stayed long enough to begin to see from their perspectives, but this will be by far a much more in-depth perception of the culture and their views than I've experienced before.
5. Resume builder.
In today's global economy, study abroad can be a vital element in a college education. Many companies increasingly desire leaders who can live successfully in a variety of countries and work with staff from different cultural backgrounds.
Not only will this experience look good on a resume, I'm actually taking the opportunity to study in my field: Art Therapy. I'm studying how the Senegalese use art as a form of therapy in their culture, and will compare this with how we use it in our culture. This will definitely broaden my perspectives and give me a much wider range of focus in my career path.
6. See the world (or at least a part of it).
Most people travel for a week or two each year if they're lucky! Study abroad students can spend a longer amount of time away and get to know a place better than the average tourist. This provides the opportunity to delve deeper into cultures, ask in-depth questions, and contemplate the significance of those places.
This is a great to study abroad: it gives me the chance to be a part of the culture, not just to observe it. I think the only way to understand a culture is to be a part of it, and I think it's really important that everyone experience this phenomenon not only to learn about another culture, but to reflect on their own.
7. Make connections that can last a lifetime.
You'll network with fellow students, teachers, host families and professionals. Remember, often your best opportunities will come from who you know.
From previous study abroad experiences I've made lasting friendships that were rooted in only 3 weeks of traveling or less. I'm eager to meet with so many students who are interested in the same program that I am, and to share ideas and learning with them.
8. Gain perspective on your own country and culture.
Studying abroad is a chance to step outside of the ordinary and experience a culture completely different from your own. Many students return amazed that while studying abroad they learned just as much about the United States and its culture as they did about life in their host country.
I'd really like to see how others see our country and how they perceive American people in particular; I feel like living in the US has given me a very different perspective on every aspect of the country than someone in a foreign country would have.
9. International travel and study are fun and exciting. Well, you knew that.
I am excited...but nervous, too. Being nervous can be good, though.
I also found these reasons, and I agree with each of them fully:
You'll have to manage your money, your coursework, your time better than you've ever had to before, in a strange and often stressful environment. This can lead to dramatic improvement in these skills when you return home.You'll have to create a whole new social network in the new country - something that requires great communication skills in general, not to mention in a foreign language. Great communication skills are essential in most jobs, so having them makes you that much more employable.Managing culture shock demands patience, tolerance, a sense of humor, an the ability to press on despite failure. All of these make for a more mature, more confident post-study abroad individual. These traits will be evident in your dealings with other people, especially potential employers.Relations between the U.S. and all other countries of the world rely on knowledgeable people who can speak from the perspective of having lived abroad. Prejudice and ignorance are some of the biggest problems standing in the way of a better understanding between two countries’ peoples, and you will be a force for breaking down this barrier.
