Education is... by Anye

Education is... by Anye - November 2017 Scholarship Essay

The purpose of a true education is to create thinkers and doers. I am a firm believer in this concept and I strive to strengthen my mind by going out into the world and experiencing it for myself. A true education lies wherever one is willing to learn for it is not limited to the confines of a classroom. That is the premise behind studying abroad which festers my desire to be a part of such an enriching experience. Yes, it is always possible to travel once I have graduated from college and have a stable job, but what is a better time to explore the world when I have the opportunity to embark on a journey to explore myself and the foundations of my education as well? Going abroad entails so many opportunities for both personal and educational growth that the word itself offers a glimpse into the experience. A stands for adapting. B stands for breaking out of my comfort zone. R represents road mapping. O stands for outlook. The second A stands for appreciation and lastly, D stands for the destination. If I were able to study abroad it would allow me to challenge myself, develop a worldly view of my nursing studies and deepen my appreciation for a college education.
A major part of receiving a college education is learning how to adapt. This is why studying abroad is such a great opportunity because it would force me to do so and to do so quickly. I have realized that I learn best when I am challenged and encouraged to break away from my familiar. Trying to further my education while in another country is a challenge I am willing to face head-on. While abroad, no longer will I have the security of knowing I can go back to the safety of my dorm to study or have the same resources available to me on campus. I must instead immerse myself in the new environment filled with foreign language and culture and allow it to positively reshape my education. For example, if I go abroad to a Spanish speaking country, learning the language opens doors for me in my education that might remain closed to others. If I go abroad to an underdeveloped country I must learn to maneuver in an unknown lifestyle and do my best to help those around me.
As a future nursing student, my academic course is already set in stone for me. I know that I will be very busy with difficult classes, labs and clinical rotations over the course of my college career. The label “nursing student” will become synonymous with “my life”. It is for these reasons that many people do not recommend studying abroad while in this major. However, such an opportunity would allow me to set a roadmap for the success I would like to receive from my education. It is only through studying abroad that I will have access to various methods and treatments used by nurses around the world that may have otherwise remained obscure to me. Being abroad gives me a front row seat to not only the nursing profession in another country but to all aspects of health. The way that nursing is practiced abroad is undoubtedly different than in America and being able to witness my future career in a different terrain would enhance my understanding of my studies. Not only would this give me a different perspective and outlook on the major but also on life. If I can take away a variety problem-solving techniques and ways to interact with people I can later apply them in the classroom and in areas of my life.
Being in a different country would completely reshape my education and foster a deep appreciation for it. Being able to study abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity that not everyone can have. Due to this fact, if I am blessed enough to do so, the experience would deepen my appreciation for my education as well as travel. I am in love with the idea of enhancing my education no matter where I am and studying abroad is all about taking that journey. Although this journey is what will make my education stand out from others, my destination is ultimately my degree. This is my end goal and I believe it would greatly benefit my abilities to do with it what I please from a studying abroad experience. Education is a very precious gift that I deeply value and I plan to make the most of it.
Every part of a study abroad experience ultimately goes around and comes back around in a circle. The things I could learn in a new class would in turn influence how I contemplate and approach situations outside of the classrooms. The people and surroundings I encounter in a new environment will in turn influence the way I think about topics in class. This is what I most look forward to, being able to intermingle the things I learn both inside and outside of school.