The Best Fit by Jessica

The Best Fit by Jessica - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

Going to college is a terrifying experience, as one has no idea what to expect on the first day. All one knows is the expected overwhelming coarse loads, being surrounded by unfamiliar classmates, being away from home, and having to pay potentially expensive tuition. Now, adding on studying abroad can possibly lead to stress overload for some students. Each student is unique, as what is stressful for one can be a piece of cake for someone else. To some, the stress of financial situations to some create tons of stress, as college can be very expensive. The college experience is different for each college student, some participating in clubs and activities while others spend their time doubling up on courses or doing service. College students should not be required to student abroad since every student has different situations emotionally, financially, and in the way one learns.
The college experience, especially towards the beginning, can equal stress for students—to some it may come to the point of almost unmanageable. Being emotionally stable is the key to success in any situation, as one’s emotional state is the foundation for the rest of one’s being. Each person has their own emotional baseline and no one’s baseline is the same as someone else’s as we are all unique human beings. Studying abroad is a new stress of its own—one going into a foreign country with the possibility of having to speak a foreign language along with knowing no one. This can be a very overwhelming situation for some and can result in emotional breakdown. While, for other college students, this can be the best experience of their lives. This being said, each college student experiences the world around them differently and every activity can affect the well-being of a person differently. With each student being unique and with different emotional levels, studying abroad can be counterproductive to the student.
Emotion stability is important to success, and any additional stress can affect one’s well-being. College tuition can be very pricey, especially if a student is responsible for paying for it. Taking on part time jobs along with being a fulltime student can be very overwhelming. Now adding on an additional cost for studying abroad could be near impossible for some students to pay in a timely manner. The longer a student waits to pay off tuition, the more the student loans pile up and thus creating mountains of debt. For students who struggle to pay for regular college tuition, the additional cost of studying abroad may be unfeasible for some college students.
In addition to feasibility, each student learns differently—some gain more knowledge through experiences while others learn through repetition. And even the students who all learn from experiences each absorb the world around them differently, as some prefer immersing into completely unique situations while others see practical work that has physical impact as being more effective. Requiring every student to participate in a study abroad may not benefit some students as much as other students. Being as learning can take place in a variety of different ways, studying abroad only being one, every unique situation can be a learning experience in one way or another.
College students have reached an age and level of maturity where each student is capable of making their own decision that will most benefit them personally. Being required to study abroad may not be the best choice for some students, either for their emotional well-being, financially, or being affective. Studying abroad should be an option for college students where they can choose whether they would like to participate or take a pass. Choosing to studying abroad is a decision that students should have, not to be forced into participating in a study abroad.