It's Not for Everyone by Naphtali

It's Not for Everyone by Naphtali - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

When I hear the question “Should all college students be required to study abroad? Why or why not?”, it influences me to think intellectually about the question. I get stuck between if it should be required or not. I mean studying abroad does have its benefits and I do believe that any profession in college can benefit from studying abroad. I have heard that people have grown from their personal experiences of studying abroad. I also believe that it depends on the person themselves. I do not know if I can say that it should be required for every college student.
When I think of certain individuals, I think on how maybe studying abroad might not be the best decision for them. Some students might not be dedicated to their profession and therefore their interest to work hard and expand their learning beyond a traditional learning program may not exist. For these type of individuals, studying abroad can just as well be a waste of time for the student and for the college paying for the abroad experience.
For me, studying abroad would offer an amazing experience. As an artist, I use my art as a way to express different stories from different perspectives. While a traditional learning environment would offer me great experiences to develop my craft, traveling around the world and learning and studying my art form through different environments and different cultures, would offer experiences that would be highly beneficial to my development and to the hosting country.
So in conclusion I do not believe studying abroad should be required for every college student. Instead, I believe it should be offered to those students who are seeking to expand their college experience beyond the traditional learning environment offered by their institution.