Before I get into why I think it’s important for students to travel abroad, I want to share my experience studying photography at The University of Westminster in England (July of 2019).
Without a doubt, my trip changed who I am in all areas of life and it’s been responsible for a large amount of my growth within the past year. I want to thank The Rowan University Education Abroad Office for all the amazing resources and for making my experience trouble-free.
Their staff wholeheartedly cares for every student and they go above and beyond when they really don’t need to.
My Travel Abroad Experience
At the end of 2018, I was mid-way through my junior year of college and I wasn’t in the best of places in my personal life. I felt like time was passing me by and I was letting it.
This was a feeling that went on for months and it came to a point where I wanted to rid myself of this invisible weight.
I wanted to learn more about myself as a person so I decided to seek out new experiences and change things up.
Around this time I made the decision to study abroad on a whim. Originally It was just a thought but the more research I did I realized that it would be an opportunity I shouldn’t pass up.
The intention to study abroad was influenced by several reasons. I felt trapped in my everyday environment, I was too comfortable, I needed to challenge myself to grow, and lastly, I’ve always wanted to travel.
Before it became official I attempted to talk myself out of going. I didn’t know what country to visit and outside of traveling with my family I never traveled alone.
Once the nerves settled I came to my senses and determined that I would study abroad in London, England.
I figured that this would be the best destination for me because the most common language in the United Kingdom is English and that is the only language I currently speak.
I wanted to be able to take myself outside of my comfort zone while not completely dissociating from my environment because I was in a country where I didn’t speak the language.
To make a long story short my trip lasted the majority of July and I regret that I ever had second thoughts about not going. During my stay in London, I met other students from across the U.S. through isa study abroad (Study abroad organization) and even other students from around the world.
I traveled around various parts of the city with total strangers and turned those relationships into friendships that I’ll treasure for life.
Shout out to Khem, Sierra, Muhsin, Danny, Ali, Blake, and everyone else I got the chance to meet.
Eventually, I was comfortable enough to travel outside of London by myself and I met doctor and YouTuber Ali Abdaal when I went to Cambridge, England. A few days prior I reached out to him about coming onto my podcast and he agreed to come on.
Ali gave me a ton of useful advice during our conversation and I couldn’t be any more appreciative of his generosity. Go check him out on YouTube, he’s a fantastic creator.
Nearing the end of my time abroad I spontaneously took a last-minute trip to The Netherlands for 2 days. A few months prior I would have never expected to find myself here but the timing was right.
I’m content with how I spent my time although I wish I took advantage of visiting a few other countries in Europe. Perhaps those trips are meant for future dates.
I know it sounds dramatic but just by following through on what at the time seemed like a farfetched idea, I created memories that I can hold onto forever.
With my story aside I think this would be a perfect time to pivot into why more students should prioritize going abroad.
Reasons To Travel
This list could be endless but for starters…
– It gives you the chance to travel
– You experience a new culture and environment
– Personal development
– It could open career opportunities
– You can develop new relationships
– Looks great on a resume
My personal favorite is the academic benefits of studying abroad. Most universities offer you college credit which counts towards graduation. Reach out to your school’s education abroad office and seek out more information on this.
They’ll be able to walk you through the entire process and help you learn about available programs and study abroad organizations.
It’s almost like taking an extended field trip to another country.
Oh, wait… It is!
By now you probably get the idea. There are many reasons to travel while in college but I believe that your reasons should be specific to you.
If it’s something you have thought about in the past but you’ve struggled to make that decision you should try to identify why that might be. If you’ve given it thought at one point it could be safe to suspect you have an interest.
Layout what your concerns are and measure them against what makes a trip seem appealing. I’m no expert in giving advice but this is what I did to figure out if I wanted to go to England.
Of course, there are more moving parts that go into making the decision such as finances, your schedule, family situations and more. Assuming things line up after analyzing your situation it comes down to where you want to visit.
“Where Should I Travel?”
With this topic, I can share my opinion but unfortunately, this is for you to decide. I know what I like but everyone gets different enjoyment out of life.
For example, maybe you like a slow and calm environment where life isn’t as hectic. Or maybe you want a fast-paced urban environment where there is an emerging creative scene.
Whatever it is that you have an interest in, visiting a country that can enhance your knowledge, skills, or apply to your major more often than not will have a positive return on investment.
Wrapping Up
At the end of the day if you think traveling isn’t for you, don’t force it. As much as I believe that education abroad is a life-changing experience, I also understand that it isn’t for everyone.
I would like to say that in my own experience the benefits far outweigh the negatives, but you be the judge.
That brings me to the end of this post. If you enjoyed it or got any value out of it, reach out to me on Twitter or Instagram at @greenemekhi and let me know!
Also, if you’re a college student and you have questions about studying abroad I would love to help you out and share some resources with you.
Anyway, I’ll catch you next week!
Things I talked about in this post
– Rowan Study Abroad
– University of Westminster
– Ali’s YouTube Channel
– My Podcast
Follow My Friends!
@blakemhaynes, @khemistry121, @aguerrra, @muhsinyc, @just_waite_for_it, @dannymetz0
The post Reasons to Study Abroad: Why Travel Is Important appeared first on Mekhi Greene.
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