Expanding The Mind by Elizabeth

Expanding The Mind by Elizabeth - November 2017 Scholarship Essay

Knowledge is acquired from new experiences, such as being exposed to different cultures and customs. As a person leaves their comfort zone, they gain a greater sense of perception of the world through learning about the different ways people live. One of the best ways to expand the mind is to study abroad. By leaving your country that you have been accustomed to, and moving to a foreign land, you have to adjust to a whole new and differing way of life. The positive impacts on your college education by studying abroad would be to experience a new culture and to develop an open mindset.

An American that moves from the United States to Japan would experience a huge culture shock. Cultural traditions may be different when you study abroad, so you would learn new customs for eating and social gestures. Also, some places may have a language that is more common than English, so you would become versatile in communication. Living in a place with a culture completely unlike what you're used to, will continue your level of education through knowledge that you gain.

An open mindset will be necessary for anyone seeking to live in another country. You may have to dress, speak, or travel in a way that would be considered "unusual" in your country of origin. Some countries may be more or less developed than your home country, so you would have to adjust to the advancement, or lack of technology. Being able to go to a country with less technology available would force you to think of an alternative way of "standard" living. An open mindset is a very positive impact towards your education because you can more easily find creative and efficient solutions to problems.

Studying abroad encourages college students to be able to continue their education through new experiences. Relocating to a new place will present challenges that you probably have never dealt with before. Then, each time you are faced with a new challenge, you learn and remember how to overcome it, and therefore gain knowledge. The positive impact studying abroad has on your college education is the awareness of different cultures and expanding one's mind. One who seeks information in uncommon ways is a successful and knowledgeable person.