A Whole New World by Katherine

A Whole New World by Katherine - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

Adventure is something that we all seek as children. We explore, we find boundaries only to break them, and we are constantly thirsting for more knowledge about unknown items or places. As we grow up, we try not to lose our sense of adventure but have to sometimes sacrifice our urge to explore in order to devote time to other activities that we hold as important as well, like school, sports, and family. Although study abroad programs are flexible and allow young adults to follow their passion to explore and expand their experiences, they cannot be mandatory because some people hold other activities or values higher than that of travelling and studying in a foreign country.
Being able to study in a foreign country is probably an unforgettable experience but should not be required. At many strong universities and colleges they make it very easy for students to study abroad if they choose to. A studying abroad, however, can be viewed similarly to participating on a sport’s team or another college club; it would be absurd to require all students to play a sport or join a club. These extracurricular activities are not crucial to the development of a well-rounded, well-educated, college student. College is a place of opportunity and growth, where a student decides to grasp opportunity and grow as a person should be a personal choice, not a forced one.
Studying abroad helps to expand a student’s views of the world and allows for students to immerse themselves in foreign cultures, but should be optional, not directed. Students should be allowed to allocate their time to their studies and activities as they see fit, and studying abroad takes up time and resources. A study abroad requirement has too many variables. How much would the trip cost? Are their class requirements while in the foreign country? Will the credits transfer? College is an expensive endeavor; a mandatory study abroad program would make the cost of an education even costlier.
One of the main reasons I am thrilled about going off to school is the new freedom I will have, and not just in terms of the autonomy I will have from my parents. I will have difficult choices to make, but the beauty of being in college is that I am the one who gets to make these decisions now. I have full responsibility, and have to deal with the repercussions of the choices I make. It’s a scary, but wonderful power to have. Being forced into a program simply because my advisor tells me to do so takes away from awe of college. In high school our guidance counselors push us into classes and programs, and a crucial part of the separation between high school and college is having that choice. Study abroad programs are valuable, but only when they are an option and not a mandate.