Expanding My Horizons Abroad by Matthew

Expanding My Horizons Abroad by Matthew - November 2017 Scholarship Essay

Studying abroad is a goal of mine as a college student. I am attracted to the idea of exploring a new country while also continuing to pursue my degree. Studying abroad would benefit my education as it would provide a new perspective on learning and problem-solving, allow me to expand my connections worldwide, and expose me to a new culture.
By studying in a foreign country, I would be able to experience the education in another country and learn how they solve problems. Seeing how education works in another country would allow me to see what the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. education system are. I would also be able to take the new strategies and routines I pick up while studying abroad and apply them to my life at home. By working, living, and learning alongside people from different cultures, I would pick up the ways that they approach and solve problems. I believe that learning to look at issues from multiple perspectives would help me tremendously both as a student and in my future career. Studying abroad is a fantastic way gain new outlooks on education and challenges in my life.
While abroad, I would likely have the opportunity to expand my network of acquaintances through my education, internships, and jobs. By attending a new school, I would meet many new professors and students that I would work closely with. This could pay off in research opportunities as well as long-term partnerships. In addition, as study-abroad class loads are generally lighter than those at a U.S. university, I would likely have time to get an internship or a job. A job or internship would connect me with international companies that I could possibly work for in the future. I would also learn about how foreign workplaces work and what makes them successful. By spending time abroad, my connections in my field of study would expand tremendously.
Finally, I want to get the “full experience” of a foreign country. While living in foreign country, the challenges and obstacles that I face will force me to find new strategies to overcome the issues. For example, I will likely have to learn a new language to communicate effectively with the locals. Therefore, using a language program and paying close attention when communicating with a local, I would begin to learn the local dialect. I would also have to learn about the finances of living on my own. Not having roommates or parents nearby to help me would force me to quickly learn how to manage my own money. By becoming fully immersed in a new culture, I would acquire valuable skills that would be applicable in both the classroom and in my daily life.
Overall, studying abroad would allow me to extend my perspectives on problems, network of connections, and skills to an international level that would greatly increase my success as a student and employee.