Lessons Learned Living Abroad by Sophie

Lessons Learned Living Abroad by Sophie - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

Imagine yourself lying on a beach, watching the waves roll in, and being basked in the sun. You check your time and realize you have to go to class. After class, you come back to the same beach and watch the sunset over the water. Sounds perfect, right? This is a classic example of what any student's life could be like if s/he chooses to study abroad. Now in reality, studying abroad is not only about going to the beach every day. It is more about expanding a student's horizons and becoming more culturally aware. Studying abroad should be mandatory because it expands student's knowledge, creates more culturally diverse individuals, and provides a new perspective for students.
First, studying abroad creates more knowledgeable students. Students will become more knowledgeable about how to travel in general. They will know and understand things about airports and planes and thus, making traveling in the future a lot easier. Upon arriving in whatever place they happen to go, they not only will be studying their chosen major, they will unknowingly be learning about a whole new culture and place. They may learn how to interact with others in a different language. That is a skill that will be very helpful in the professional workplace. Students will also learn about things like different forms of currency and social norms in different places. Students will learn many different life skills such as adapting to a new environment and creating change in their life. The lessons that students will learn in a new place will be greater than the ones a teacher would teach them because they will learn on their own. All these lessons that a student could receive from just one year abroad cannot begin to compare to the lessons they would have received from studying at the same college they have been.Obtaining lessons like the ones a student will receive from studying abroad will create a more well-rounded human being.
Secondly, studying abroad will create more culturally diverse students. Many young people have not even traveled out of their state nevertheless their country. These people have no idea what it is like in different places other than what they see on television or the internet. Making studying abroad mandatory gives these students the opportunity to go somewhere they otherwise would not have. Traveling to a new country, students will be completely soaked in a new culture. They will be able to learn about new foods, traditions, and even religions. Soon enough, daily life in a new country will become normal to them. After spending time studying in a new cultural setting, students will learn to appreciate the similarities and differences between what they are used to and the new things they will be presented with. Being knowledgeable about a different culture can also be a useful tool in the professional workplace. When thinking about students learning about a new culture, it is hard to think of any negatives.
Lastly, studying abroad should be mandatory because it will provide a new perspective for students. Different kids come from different backgrounds. Going to a place different than what students are used to will provide a sense of gratitude for what they do have. This will help students to appreciate the life they have and even to experience things they never experienced growing up. Being in a new place could inspire many people to live somewhere elsewhere than where their hometown is. Some students may fall in love with traveling and want to somehow incorporate it into their future jobs.
In conclusion, studying abroad should be mandatory because it creates more knowledgeable students, helps students become more culturally diverse, and provides students with a new perspective. Upon leaving the place they studied at, students will feel a sense of accomplishment because of all they have learned. They will use all the lessons they learned while being abroad for the rest of their lives. The time a student spent studying abroad is time that will never be forgotten.