When Opportunity Knocks by Brinkley

When Opportunity Knocks by Brinkley - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

Studying abroad is choosing to willingly leave home and what is familiar and navigable in exchange for immersion in a new and unfamiliar place and a chance to discover more deeply the personal identity. It allows students to experience their studies from a new perspective, at a new position. From all of the testimonies I have heard and pictures and blog posts that I have seen regarding college students who have studied abroad, I have gathered that the experience is transformative, exhilarating, and often the best time of the traveler’s life thus far. The general sentiment towards going abroad during college is so positive that it seems a given that students should be encouraged to participate, and if going to another country and experiencing another culture shapes individuals so deeply, of course everybody should have to do it. Making it mandatory would ensure that all students have those life-changing experiences and can develop their educational portfolio.
The challenge with it being required is that, for many students, studying abroad is not feasible. This might be because they are financially independent, and cannot summon the funds. Perhaps they are a parent or they take care of their siblings while attending school. Mentioning these circumstances is not to make them seem negative or inhibiting, nor is it to make the idea of going abroad seem lofty. Rather, they are mentioned to acknowledge the reality that many folks striving for a degree face. If there were unlimited money and resources for college students, I would be the first to vote that yes, it should be a requirement. In an ideal situation, students who fear leaving their homes during difficult times could have access to emergency traveling funds. Students who are parents could bring their children along, or find the best interim childcare. Non-traditional students who might be tied to a job at home could find a compensation abroad via some sort of exchange. These examples are all circumstantial, but they could make a world of difference for the accessibility of going abroad. If these students’ reasons for staying home changed or were accommodated, then all college students could experience the wonderful opportunity of entering into a foreign community and learning the ways of humans around the world.
In a perfect condition with few restrictions and an abundance of financial and other resources, all college students could then be required to study abroad. This will make it so that all students can begin to know the importance and power of place in relation to human beings and the human experience. Individuals will be prompted to pay attention to their surroundings and look to others for help and guidance in order to thrive in the new place they might soon call their second home. The experience can shape individuals into better citizens, community members, and learners, as they are forced to stretch themselves and re-frame their global lens. For all of these reasons, it would seem unthinkable that a student would forego this opportunity, and with the right resources and accommodations, it could become imaginable for all earning a degree.