A Day In Rome by Megan

A Day In Rome by Megan - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

When a student arrives on a college campus there are so many decisions to be made: What clubs to join, what classes to take, and whether or not study abroad. Studying abroad can be frightening to students. They are leaving everything they know behind to go and study in a place where they might not be able to do something as simple as converse. Studying abroad should be required for all students. Students who study abroad are given a once and a lifetime opportunity to learn their major from a different cultural perspective and they may even be inspired by their experiences in a different country.
Often when people do something the same way for so long they begin to see their way as being the right way simply because they are ignorant to other possibilities. That is why studying abroad is such a good idea for students. Going to a foreign place puts students out of their comfort zones because they can not just follow everything they have been taught blindly. The students have to adapt to their surroundings; Foreign study gives students an opportunity to view their major in a completely new light. Chances are things will be done differently in the host country than it is done in the native country, thus forcing the students to come up with creative ways to fit into their new environment, and still get the work they need to get done done. Studying abroad gives students a different vantage point than that of a student who remains in their native country for all of their schooling. The kids that take the chance to venture out of their home town are given the advantage because they have a completely different perspective of their major. These students may be able to take new ideas back home that will positively impact their major or share information in their host country. This exchange of information is imperative. No one is the best at everything, there is always someone out there that is one step ahead. If students are able to learn things about how different cultures do things and incorporate those things into their studies they may just be able to revolutionize their major.
Traveling outside of the United States will allow people to understand just how different life is outside of their home country. There are people living in terrible conditions that are unimaginable to someone who has lived comfortably their entire life. Foreign study could motivate students to do something to help people that are not living as comfortably as them. It only takes one person to start a chain reaction. If one person goes to study abroad and is inspired by what they see and experience then they will share their story with others, and maybe their story will inspire someone else to study abroad and help out people who are living in atrocious conditions. Often times people who live comfortably take what they have for granted until they see or experience not having anything. If a student was sent to a country that was not as advanced as their own to study they may be inspired to help and they would certainly be more appreciative of what was waiting for them back at home. A world full of people who are appreciative and helpful would be a game changer.
Paris, London, Tokyo, are just a few of the numerous possibilities for foreign study. All students should get involved. Studying abroad creates a once in a lifetime opportunity that students will cherish forever. The students who chose to study abroad are given an advantage over students who don’t because they are able to experience their major from another cultural perspective and they may just end up becoming more helpful, and appreciative of people on their way home. Everyone deserves the chance to see how different and brilliant life is outside of their native country. Studying abroad should be required because gives students the chance to venture outside their home country and become aware of the amazing achievements that are happening all over the world as well as how big of a difference people can make.