Success and Studying Abroad by Abigail

Success and Studying Abroad by Abigail - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

Frank A. Clark said, “If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere”. These words highlight how hard it is to gain a stellar education in this decade, and how education requires resolve no matter where a student is attending college. In a world without inhibitions, it is easy to say any student would benefit from the rich experience of studying abroad. However, the barriers college students face today; such as social anxiety, loneliness, and failure to adjust; suggest this experience would not work for everyone. It cannot be guaranteed that a student will possess the resolve to approach abroad study in a way that will enable them to overcome the hardship. If a student cannot overcome culture barriers, he cannot effectively learn and should not be required to have the experience.
The most notable advantage to studying abroad is arguably the fact that the a student gains cultural understanding from first-hand practice, which can never be replicated in a state college classroom. Students not only collect experiences in new places, but also build independence by learning to develop and nurture their own education based on their immediate surroundings. The ability to create learning experiences will be a tool they can take home and use for the rest of their lives. This skill takes determination however. The greatest challenge and potentially the most positive impact of the experience is that studying abroad pushes the student out of his comfort zone. When successful, students adapt to the new culture, create unparalleled relationships, and thrive. This is not the case for everyone. Many are instead overcome with loneliness, anxiety, and a deep feeling of isolation in a foreign country.
Obviously, feelings of isolation and anxiety are not advantageous to developing the mind and creating a healthy learning environment. Roadblocks like social anxiety cannot always be explained, but their effects can certainly be seen. A student who already has social anxiety may retreat deeper into his misery when faced with a foreign language, unfamiliar culture, and shortage of friendly faces. I had a tiny taste of what studying abroad would be like when I stayed in Puerto Escondido, Mexico for six weeks. My initial reaction to the overwhelming culture shock was to step back and refuse to participate. This attitude was based on a combination of my judgment toward the Mexican culture and my fear that I myself was being judged for being foreign. As time passed and I had positive experiences, my fear ebbed away and I eventually left Puerto Escondido feeling like I was leaving home. If I had not opened myself and adapted to the culture surrounding me, I would have closed the opportunity to learn and grow from the rich environment.
A healthy education cannot happen in a setting where students are not comfortable. If a student cannot adapt to abroad study, he should not be forced to have the experience. With that being said, I know the greatest learning experiences I ever had were when I was thrown into situations where I was not comfortable. I learned to adapt, refocus, and appreciate the experience as a learning curve. The greatest challenges in my life are also my fondest memories because I learned how opportunities crop up in new places and in unexpected ways. Overcoming barriers is a lifestyle: once it is mastered, a student could go anywhere to study, and be successful.