Study Abroad Equips Future Leaders by Jessica

Study Abroad Equips Future Leaders by Jessica - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

There is no better teacher than being immersed in a subject. One cannot simply learn about other cultures from a textbook or in a classroom hundreds or thousands of miles from the area of study, but must experience that culture for one’s self. With globalized companies, ideas, and products, it is essential for all fields of study to have employees and students who have been exposed to many ideas, beliefs, and languages. By studying abroad, future employees become more equipped to succeed in an ever-shrinking world while expanding their own horizons.
I know from personal experience the benefits of studying abroad. The summer between my sophomore and junior year of high school, I embarked on a Celtic Cultures tour of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales with People to People Student Ambassadors. Our delegation spent months before the trip learning about each country’s history, government, and customs so, but as someone whose strong subject in school isn’t history or government, I was amazed at all the fact rolling off my tongue when we stepped off the airplane back in Houston. Some of my favorite memories on the trip were the days when the delegation roamed around the town meeting locals, eating typical food from that community or country, and observing everyday life rather than hitting all the major tourist destinations. It gave us an opportunity to personally interact with the cultures. From learning the Irish national anthem to dispelling the belief that all Texans ride horses to school, we had the unique ability not only to learn but to teach. I have no doubt that the broader one’s mind becomes, the more knowledge one gains, not only in social interactions, but in one’s self. For me especially, I became more adaptable and outgoing, which will benefit me in both college, my future work place, and my personal life.
As the world continues to grow smaller and smaller as the human race continues to expand, the connections we as students make around the world in extremely valuable. A world full of understanding and acceptance rather than ignorance is a much more productive and peaceful world. If this is our goal, then mandatory study abroad is not only a fun means to an end, but a logical step in the right direction.