Indiana by Sabrina

Indiana by Sabrina - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

“To even get here, to the edge, of what feels like the Earth, is a privilege, a profound privilege that beguiled my mind in the moment and days afterward.” This how Jada Bullen from Georgetown University described her study abroad experience in Rabat, Morocco.
The key word to draw from Bullen’s account is the term; privilege. Study abroad trips gift students with the opportunity to travel the world while expanding on academic and cultural studies. Despite the clear benefits from this experience, there are many “red flag” reasons as to why this requirement would hurt more than help.

When a student travels abroad they accept the responsibility of representing their country, and their university. Students who do not take the study experience seriously may diminish the name of their university, or the United States, by being a poor representation and making unacceptable decisions while a part of the program. Additionally, requiring students to fulfill a study abroad experience removes an incentive for them to work hard in school. The value of studying abroad is often a driving force in students to get good grades, stay out of trouble, and strengthen their resumes. As of now, studying abroad is a reward to those who work hard and genuinely want to get the most they can out of the experience. If this experience were required, then students would lose a lot of the satisfaction or value that they derive from earning it.

More simply, there are some natural occurrences that conflict with the purposed requirement. Not every student will be able to handle travel due to medical status, abnormal stress levels, or mental instability. Spending long periods away from home, friends, and family can take a toll on anyone. However, for some people who suffer from a disadvantage as I have previously mentioned, even the thought of studying abroad seems overwhlming. Everyone should be entitled to an education without being put at a disadvantage by mental or physical strain. Lastly, a straightforward answer to this question is; it is not an affordable decision to make studying abroad required. It is unfair and unreasonable for colleges to force students to pay skyrocket expenses on top of tuition, boarding, and book fees that they are already paying.

Studying abroad provides a lot of great experiences and opportunities for young adults. However, it does so at the expense of a positive representation, motivating incentives, mental and/or physical strain, and unmanageable finances. The choice to study abroad is an individual decision. Those who work hard, earn scholarships, and want to be a part of the program as much as they want to benefit from the experience, have all earned the privilege of studying abroad.