Learning Is More than a Textbook by Marty

Learning Is More than a Textbook by Marty - November 2017 Scholarship Essay

"Yea looking down from 30,000 feet, life's been good to me." This was the line that kept playing through my mind as a flew across the world to live in Ukraine for a Semester Abroad. I was not going to learn however, I was going to teach, or at least that's what I thought! I volunteered to teach English in a tiny school, and even though I was there to teach, I learned so much about Ukrainian culture, effective teaching methods for keeping young kids entertained, and how to organize a four hour lesson day. This was all particularly helpful for the career I hope to have. But I'm not writing this to tell you about the experiences I've already had!

Teaching abroad and studying abroad are two very different kinds of experiences and opportunities. But because of that opportunity last year, I have a greater desire to travel again and focus more on studying and learning from a new perspective. The atmosphere around us makes a huge difference in the way we feel, the motivation we have, and the learning we retain. That is why I choose to study in a quite place next to my window where I can see the whole valley in front of me. Having that perspective while I'm studying somehow clears my head and helps me relax and enjoy more the work I'm trying to finish. Of course the trick is always staying focused and not getting too comfortable...

Studying abroad would have the same effect on anyone who takes in a new space, a new culture, a new backdrop for their education. Instead of reading about oppression in text book, maybe you would see it in the lives of the elderly and homeless that line the streets where you walk to school. Instead of watching a documentary about government leaders, a rare species of animal, or a historical event that shaped the landscape and lifestyle of a group of people, you could learn from the hands, eyes, and ears of those who live and experience those things first hand. Its incredible the difference it makes on what you remember and what changes you when you learn from a new perspective. I think studying abroad would give my college education a breath of fresh air. I'd find motivation to graduate and quickly get back out in the world doing the things I spent countless hours studying in a text book.