The Impact of Studying Abroad by Katelyn

The Impact of Studying Abroad by Katelyn - November 2017 Scholarship Essay

The world we live in is full of an incredible variety of cultures, and people. From one place to another, each culture is unique and cannot be compared with the one before it. Because of this, it would be a huge opportunity for me to be able to study abroad and have the ability to learn about and interact with each of the places. Learning about the cultures of the different places in the world throughout my college years would broaden my understanding of the diversity of the planet I live on, deepen my understanding of the people across the globe, and further my academic education.
Every country across the globe has its own unique cultures. China, for example, is known for eating the vast majority of its food with chopsticks, and Thailand is remembered for its beautiful tropical landscapes and elephants. Every place has something exceptionally special about it and if I were to have the opportunity to meet and have contact with each of these cultures, I am certain that I would learn vastly about the diversity of the cultures around the globe, deepening my understanding of the world I live in and those that I am surrounded by. As a “missionary kid” who has been across cultures and has lived in Thailand for three years, I am certain that anyone who had the chance to study abroad would learn greatly from the cultures they were to come into contact with. Before I departed from America and traveled to Thailand, I had very little knowledge of the world around me and knew hardly anything about the place I was going to live in. I had learned a little about it when I had gone with my parents to on a short-term trip to the country beforehand to see what it would be like ministering there, but it was by far nothing in comparison to living there. Living in Thailand has taught me so much about myself and the world around me, I cannot imagine what I would be like if I had not traveled overseas. It was a whole different world almost. The culture was incalculably different from the one I had been raised in. Even trying to find a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner was a challenge! In the same way, rice is Thailand’s staple food. In the U.S.A, the staple food is bread so the food is also drastically different!
Not only would I learn more from the culture, however, I would also be able to learn from the people that I would meet throughout my time in each place I visited. I have learned so many positive lessons from the people that I have met on the other side of the world. They have deepened my maturity as an individual and taught me so many things about life. I could never take the lessons that they have taught me for granted. Through the relationships that I made across the world, I have gained a deeper respect for the people around me and the different cultures that I am surrounded by. Not only that, but I also have gained the strong sense of family that is evident in Thai culture. Family always cares for each other, regardless of how difficult it may be. Grandparents are cared for and supported until their death and the sense of community throughout the villages I have visited is immense. I am sure that if anyone else was also given the chance, they too would profit from the people they come in contact with. Wherever they may be, there is always something that can be learned from the people around the globe.
Also, as I furthered my understanding of the diversity of tradition, religion, and conduct across the globe, I also increased my education academically in itself. As I said previously, before I traveled to Thailand, I knew hardly anything about the world surrounding me, but now, though I know I do not understand everything, I know I have learned significantly about the places that I have traveled to. Being able to learn about and experience the world that surrounded me left a much larger imprint on my mind than any textbook could. I am positive that anyone else would profit in the same way. With each place that I visited, more incredible information about that place was being added to my mind and that knowledge has tremendously matured me into the person that I am today and I know it would equip me for my future if I continued to study abroad.
All in all, being able to study abroad would notably help me as I begin my college years. Through my experiences in Thailand and how much I have grown as a person through that, I am sure that if I further expanded my knowledge of the world I live in, the people I am surrounded by, and furthering my academic education, I would be additionally impacted as a college student. I would also be further prepared for my future. The world is so full of incredible places, cultures, and people that there is hardly an end to what can be learned globally. Consequently, it would be an incredible venture to be able to continue to travel the world and learn more about the diversity of those places.