Globalization by Rebecca

Globalization by Rebecca - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

Globalization

Every inch of our massive world is laced with history, architecture, culture, and opportunity. For the vast majority, the chance to experience what this planet has to offer is hard to come by first hand. Students are taught different ways of life or the history that has taken place in a certain country throughout all levels of schooling. However, not enough students get to experience this in person. With this new age of technology, more individuals embrace the characteristic of visual learning. Studying abroad is considered the opportunity of a lifetime to visually and physically experience other parts of the world. Studying abroad should become less of a once in a lifetime chance and more of a oppurtunity.

The majority of colleges offer the chance to take a trip to a foreign country to study and further their academic resume. With any college, studying abroad should no longer be a chance, it should to be a requirement. If a student chooses the right study abroad program it could benefit them in numerous ways. Studying abroad provides exposure to college level students who may have never left their hometown. Making a study abroad program mandatory in college will force students out of their comfort zone. Stepping out of their comfort zones will force students into the unknown territory of the world where it will be necessary for students to adapt and experience what other parts of the world has to offer. In addition to exposure, visiting another country with the primary goal being in a student’s major could push them far beyond other students when looking for a career. Students in high school or college simply lack the international experience that develops a well-rounded contributor to our society.

Not only will studying abroad benefit a student in their academic studies, it will give a student a step up in the world socially. Experiencing and exploring the environment, culture, or education system of another country could give an American student a reality check. In addition, it has the possibility for students to recognize and cast off the stereotypes that are put out there. Additionally, learning to interact with people outside of our own country can better equip students with more social skills than what a student who has not studied abroad will hold. Aside from social growth, personal growth is something that has the potential to be acquired while studying abroad. Whether the program is for a few short weeks, a semester, or a school year, it is all a span of time where a student will be exposed to eye-opening history and culture that can result in a changed view on the world in a student's eyes.
There is a never-ending list of benefits to study abroad programs becoming a college requirement. Studying abroad is a program that can be designed to give students a step up in the real world for the sake of developing their personal and social skills. Studying abroad will also give students a step up in the long run when pursuing a career due to the experience and exposure gained from the program. The world is constantly changing and it is up to colleges and universities to ensure that students stay interconnected with the world and are equipped to face what the real world has to offer.