Should College Students Be Required to Study Abroad? by Eilis

Should College Students Be Required to Study Abroad? by Eilis - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

A college student wanders, lost, in a small town in a foreign country. Unable to ask for help due to their limited knowledge of the local language, they wander for hours before finding a bus station. They are unable to read the map, and they don’t have enough of the local currency to pay for a fare. What would happen next? We don’t know for sure, but the outcome may be good or bad. Studying abroad has advantages and disadvantages, but I don’t believe college students should be forced to study abroad.
Studying abroad can be a good thing. It increases a student’s scope and helps to make them a more well-rounded person. It’s fun and often provides a lifetime of memories. Studying in another language quickly increases a student’s competency in that language, and living in a country across the world from family can inspire independence in the student.
However, studying abroad is not for every college student. More outgoing students may find it easy to thrive in a totally different environment, but shy or soft-spoken students may find it difficult to interact with a country of complete strangers. Not knowing the local currency as well as they do their native currency, students may spend too much money and land in debt. Many students might find it hard to be so far away from their families and friends for long periods of time, and international phone calls can add up quickly. Students would miss their familiar routines, food, family, friends, and more when their life is suddenly uprooted and set down across the world. Many student’s schoolwork would suffer due to the new language and the struggles that come with living on your own in a foreign country.
Studying abroad is a good thing, when students choose to undertake it while completely aware of the associated risks. Forcing unwilling college students to study abroad isn’t a good idea, but giving college students the option to study abroad is. Studying abroad is a good thing, but only when done willingly, so not all college students should be required to study abroad.