Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience that extends far beyond the classroom. It presents a chance to engage with diverse cultures, build lifelong connections, and discover aspects of yourself you never knew existed.
Understanding studying abroad programs helps you fully appreciate their potential for personal and academic growth.
Understanding Study Abroad
I remember when I was applying to college, a reoccurring piece of advice I’d receive was to consider school’s studying abroad programs. It was just something that was always on the table, and it was important. It didn’t mean much to me then. Sounded cool. So did college.
When college arrived, I finally understood the allure everyone spoke of. Educational programs outside one’s home country is an experience almost crucial to young adults.In these programs — which range from short-term summer courses to full-year academic immersions — students can attend partner universities, exchange programs, or participate in international programs organized by their educational institutions.
Studying abroad is thrilling and special. It’s an opportunity for personal growth, academic enrichment, and professional development. There’s so much about studying abroad that resonates. It changes you. It comes with global friendships, new dreams, and new memories unlike anything you’ve ever known. Looking closely at some study abroad experiences, I found some of the answers I was seeking to describe what makes it so special.
Personal and Emotional Growth
Exposure to different cultures and perspectives inspires new dreams and aspirations. New opportunities lead to new discoveries, new interests, or career paths. When I asked my interviewees if they returned the same, they seemed to all have responded with lighthearted tones, as if it was a silly question to ask.
One said, “The longest lasting impact of my experience…it made me more ambitious, it made me discover a side of myself I that didn’t know I had, it made me a hard worker, it made me trust myself in navigating life independent, it made me more confident in my ability to be independent, it also raised all my aspirations…”
Another replied: “Of course not. I had an idea in my mind that I reject this, I don’t support this, I don’t believe in this, however getting connected to people who believe in things I don’t believe in, and meeting them and finding they’re good people even without knowing what they believe in…It’s good to be more open.”
Homesickness
It all sounds exciting and adventurous, but nothing is ever one thing. Leaving where you came from is never easy. There’s the rigorous environment, the pressure to succeed, and one interviewee briefly mentioned: “Sometimes…I felt homesick, but the pace and time there makes you forget about anything else. Makes you forget about home.”
I got stuck on their quotation. Something that makes this experience so special is that in all the bonds you make and the new lives you’re learning about, home still lingers as part of you.
I got the opportunity to speak with someone who studied abroad in two different countries. They discussed the contrast between the experiences, which opened up a completely different perspective to the ordinary positive outlook on studying abroad: “These two experiences were kind of different, which surprised me, but it’s not different in terms of the relationships, it’s in terms of…how the environment and the time that you traveled in affected you.”
When the people around you believe different things and are completely unaware of you and your beliefs, it’s isolating and lonely.
The interviewee noted, “If there are news and things affecting you and no one sympathizing or sharing the same feelings or even talking about it like nothing is happening, it has a major effect on your experience.”
Building Bridges
In the midst of new beginnings, what leaves the strongest impact is the power of connections.
I’ll never forget talking with a close friend when the air got cool and the sky turned a cool gray. She said that it reminded her of home, and in that moment, I could see the bridge between here and the place that she was from.
Everyone gets homesick. I felt the way she was feeling. We were both there in that moment — led by strange and separate circumstances. Two different worlds, but two hearts that were missing another place and another time. We were different, but the same.
My friend explained it better: “This extremely diverse group of people, different ages different interests, and different walks of life, they all are just connected through this institution and its a strong bond…You could become someone’s friend just if you go to the same institution. It opens up new relationships and new connections, like magic…unlike most other places.”
Expanding Horizons: The Connection Between Two Countries
Global friendships break geographical and cultural barriers. The beauty is in connecting with another person — in part because you share the institution you are both attending, but transcending that surface-level relationship, you are connecting as humans, with different stories.
One interviewee said, “I was also really excited to embrace the diversity that’s offered there because the institution I went to is very diverse and it is not like that at my home institution and that led me to make a lot of friends all around the globe…getting to understand their paths and their walks of life, and their interests, and their worries. And…what makes them, them, and…what got them to this place…it just expands your mind, it expands your horizons.”
You get to know their world, their life, and their story, and at the same time you are realizing your own. Loving someone from another part of the world makes your world bigger than the small town or big city you came from. Now, you are in two places: where you are, and wherever they are. Now, you’ve got friends all over the world.
Friends All Over the World
The network of friends that students accumulate across the globe broadens their world. I asked the interviewees if they remained in contact with anyone from this experience.
One began to laugh. “Of course. You get your instagrams, your linkedins, you get all the necessities to connect.”
They added, “I got the chance to go to one of the friends I met there, to his country, and I connected with him…and it’s gonna work like that even if they come to my country, they’re gonna contact me. That’s the nature of the relationship that exists after that experience.”
So a beautiful relationship emerges: We’ve got this shared experience, and it will bond us forever. You come here and I’ll take care of you, and when I go to you, you’ll take care of me. And in this unique relationship, the interconnectedness between humans is at the core.
Another interviewee confirmed that they still keep in touch with friends made abroad: “Of course…Maybe we’ll even try to meet in a few years, or in some other country.”
The relationship between two worlds makes the world smaller even as it contributes to a larger understanding of the human experience. Each conversation, each shared laugh, and even each moment of vulnerability deepens our empathy, reminding us that regardless of where we come from, we all share similar hopes, dreams, and struggles.
Embrace the Journey
Studying abroad is a journey of personal growth and cultural discovery. It challenging. It’s rewarding. So for those interested in applying or going abroad, the answer is yes, do it. But be prepared to feel isolated at times, and know that the experience will not always be fun and exciting. However, you will experience new environments, form lasting friendships, and immerse yourself in different cultures. You’ll gain valuable knowledge and skills while deepening your own worldview.
Studying abroad is not just about exploring new places; it’s about discovering new parts of yourself and others. Stay open-minded, adaptable, and curious. Embrace the journey and trust that the experiences and friendships you make will shape your life in many ways, bridging your own world with others.
