Going Beyond Expectations: Embracing the World by Maria

Going Beyond Expectations: Embracing the World by Maria - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

As a graduating college student, one of my biggest regrets was never taking advantage of the many study abroad opportunities that my school has to offer. From trips to Spain, Italy and France to Costa Rica, Cambodia and Vietnam, FIU really lives up to its commitment of making students “worlds ahead global citizens.” Having had the opportunity myself of visiting many of these places and having spent half a year in Toronto, Canada after my high school graduation perfecting my English, I can say that going abroad is one of the most enriching and fulfilling experiences I’ve had. I do not believe, however, that these occasions should be a requirement for college graduation.

Study abroad programs are usually non-mandatory, and this characteristic is what makes them an entertaining and attractive alternative to complement any college education. They give you the possibility of earning the same credits and knowledge you would in a classroom, but with the added benefit of studying history at its roots. Learning about the French Revolution or Napoleon from your textbook is ten times better when you can actually take a stroll through les jardins de Versailles or visit Napoleon’s burial site at Les Invalides.

The challenge of making these programs mandatory is that, first and foremost, some of them are very expensive. Even when schools manage to reduce their price to affordable amounts, there continue to be students who cannot spare the money for such trips. Secondly, the mere action of making a requirement out of something intended to help you learn in a different way takes away from its initial appeal as a potential alternative of gaining knowledge. If it’s mandatory, it’s just not that fun, especially when you have to worry about your finances as well. In this sense, I consider that displaying all of the advantages of study abroad, and strongly encouraging participation will be better techniques to foster student interest.

My time abroad in Canada gave me the opportunity of seeking and facing new challenges. I was exposed to difficult situations and I had to navigate my way through them all by myself. Being alone (or with a group of fellow students) in a foreign country greatly develops your own sense of independence and problem-solving skills, while at the same time training you to adapt to diverse situations and environments. For those of us who are bilingual—and even those who aren’t, but that have a strong passion for linguistics—study abroad offers the opportunity of learning and practicing different languages. You get the chance of meeting new people, getting to know about their culture and traditions while teaching them about your own. Overall, it is an experience that helps you get away from your comfort zone, thus making you a more well rounded, tolerant, and understanding individual. All of these qualities will in the future help students respond more efficiently and adequately to real life changes and challenges. Experiencing the world is one of the most enriching adventures a college student can have, and it is one that will help shape them into the leaders of tomorrow.