Dream versus Reality by Annie

Dream versus Reality by Annie - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

Study abroad can be a fascinating as well as fulfilling experience. It can expand a student’s view of the world and help a student understand others’ points of views better. It can teach a student to manage his/her own expenses, time, and other life aspects. It can most definitely help a student learn how to adjust to new surroundings and learn flexibility, given the different culture and possibly different language.
But it should not be required. While study abroad is a valuable way to spend time in college, for those who are not easily able to adjust to new surroundings, it can be a difficult and nearly painful experience. Those unable to easily adapt will fall behind in their studies as they attempt to cope with homesickness, culture shock, loneliness, or all of the above. School is a place for learning, and while a mandatory study abroad program would definitely teach students new lessons and new experiences, not everyone is suited for a study abroad program. Balancing both the new environment and the classes still necessary for graduation would be unnecessarily stressful on some students, not to mention that the credits may not count toward the student’s degree.
Furthermore, the reality of a study abroad program is fueled by expenses. There are several expenses involved with a program such as this, not to mention necessary founders, supporters, and others willing to support and create a strong and safe program. Not all students may have access to such expenses, and while there are always scholarships, those do not always cover all the costs. Making a study abroad program mandatory would again be an unnecessary burden upon some students already struggling to pay for college. Additionally, as mentioned before, credits taken in the foreign country may not be accepted for a student’s necessary classes for graduation, and the length of school can be extended. This is another unnecessary financial burden, since students would need to stay in school longer, and some students may simply be unable to manage those costs.
Moreover, this could inadvertently end up discouraging some students from applying for college; a mandatory study abroad program can be daunting for some students, and instead they may opt to avoid college altogether and simply immediately start working, or go to trade school. Of course, that does not mean trade school is a bad option, but rather that those initially considering university may be discouraged from applying for university and instead limit their options to trade schools.
The idea of a mandatory study abroad program is wonderful—students will understand the bubble they live in is merely that—a bubble—and there is an entire world out there still to be explored. But the pathway to making that idea a reality is crossed with thorns, and instead travel should be encouraged on students’ downtime, when immersion in a different culture can be enjoyed to its fullest.