The Infinite Benefits of Studying Abroad by Sarah

The Infinite Benefits of Studying Abroad by Sarah - November 2017 Scholarship Essay

Studying abroad is an invaluable and irreplaceable experience that would positively impact my education in an infinite number of ways. With this essay I will attempt to condense these benefits to a few prominent points. The experience of studying abroad is unparalleled because of the adventure, exposure, and individual growth it affords. Studying abroad would have a profound effect on my education because it would allow me to perceive the world from a different perspective. An inevitable part of studying abroad is meeting people from a different part of the world with a different culture and school of thought. Learning alongside students from a different background would provide me an exchange of knowledge that could not be acquired in any other way. My college experience would be enhanced by learning unfamiliar methods of study and inquiry in another country. Becoming immersed in another culture is an eye-opening experience that goes beyond oneself to understanding the commonalities of humanity by creating bonds with people who are distant and unknown. Studying abroad would create in me a deep appreciation for foreign religions, customs, and ideas. It would allow me to step into the daily rhythms of a foreign university student, cultivating in me a greater measure of empathy and insight from a foreign land that I could apply to my education, career, and beyond.
In one way, studying abroad would enrich my education by acquiring knowledge about another country’s most dire problems. Their problems may be entirely different from the problems America is facing. I could discuss with foreign students how their country’s government affects their everyday lives—comparing and contrasting the effects of Americas systems with a foreign country. I would witness firsthand how another country’s institutions determine the lifestyles of its citizens. I may observe how America resolved something a foreign country still struggles with, or how a foreign country has maintained peace on a topic that is volatile in America. This would help me to make a more educated decision when voting for political platforms in America. Additionally, the opportunity to discuss face-to-face with foreign students the universal problems of the world would be an enlightening experience.
Studying abroad breaks down stereotype barriers through forming friendships with students of a different culture—cultivating compassion for students who are of a different background than me. Living with students who are different, yet working towards a common goal, establishes a shared experience where superficial categories and labels don’t matter. Forming a network of foreign friends with whom I can swap ideas and theories would expand my frame of mind. Uniting diverse ideas is necessary for a well-rounded education and the best way to do that is by studying abroad.
The greatest benefit from a study abroad experience would be my own maturation. It would be my first opportunity for real independence and be like a baby bird who jumps off a cliff to spread its wings for the first time and fly. I would have to make decisions I haven’t encountered before, while attending a school I’ve never known before, in a country I’ve never visited before, interacting with people I’ve never met before. This would allow me to learn more about myself and my capabilities. Studying abroad would push me out of my comfort zone and remove limitations that I had placed upon myself. Being exposed to new responsibilities and power would undoubtedly develop me into a more confident and self-assured person. I would be immersed in a new language that I would get to learn through interacting with people during the activities of daily life as opposed to out of a textbook. The clubs and athletic organizations I currently belong to I would be able to join in a different country and learn new aspects about topics I am familiar with. I would be able to live without such a strong family, societal, and American influence that I currently have. The physical distance would translate into more freedom from influences that have dominated my life thus far. I would participate in a unique university that could offer different opportunities and ways of learning than mine does. The new and unaccustomed circumstances may cause me to adjust my study habits and discover more effective ways to handle schoolwork. I could take these new and improved habits back with me to America and apply them to the rest of my college career. Furthermore, the independence attained through studying abroad would make me a stronger student.
Studying abroad would allow me to see new places. Visiting these foreign monuments would broaden my scope of the world. I would be able to see notable landmarks that I’ve read about in textbooks throughout my school years. Above all, studying abroad will complete my education by expanding by horizons. To me, studying abroad is not just an addition to my education, my education would be incomplete without that experience. A new place is brimming with curiosity and potential. Studying abroad would increase the breadth and depth of my education. As well as sharpen my academic intelligence and skills, and practical life wisdom. Studying abroad in Japan has been a lifelong dream of mine and $200 from the Varsity Tutors Scholarship would be 200 steps toward this dream.