Adeline Courtney, '27 & Charlotte Figler, '27
Everyone has heard about the popular program implemented in multiple colleges: studying abroad. Not only is studying abroad a beneficial program for colleges, but it is also apparent in some high schools. This program often involves students picking a program based on their interests and going somewhere around the world to participate in an internship, job, or some type of work experience. Many students have thoroughly enjoyed their time, often stating it as the highlight of their college career. While there is popularity in these travels, we're here to tell you why it should be something to consider for our community as well.
Learning about your interests from experts
One reason these programs prove to be so valuable is that experiencing different styles of learning and teaching outside of our routine and normal setting is extremely beneficial. Traveling is necessary to do, because it’s studying under teachers who are experts. You also get to learn more about a topic that interests you. For example, at a study abroad program in Vienna, you get to study music in the same city as Mozart and Beethoven. Another example is a study abroad program in Tuscany where you get to cook with Italian chefs. By experiencing how to cook Italian cuisine in Italy, you get a hands-on experience you wouldn’t be able to get otherwise. Overall, you get to meet new teachers and learn techniques they might have adapted. (US News)
New Culture
By studying abroad, you get to experience new cultures and environments. By living in a new place for an extended period, you get to involve yourself in the language, culture, and people, and gain an appreciation. You get to experience new foods, customs, traditions, and even sometimes a language. Besides just studying in a new place, you also get to gain knowledge about new cultures and the countries in which you visit. For example, one student said, “While many friends of mine within my major were staying stateside for their internships, I got the opportunity to see more of the world.” Another said, “Being overseas allowed me to not only further my education in medicine, but it allowed me to have a wider outlook on life” (GO Overseas). Seeing the world and developing a love for travel is something that a lot of people find beneficial, so experiencing this at a young age is important (International Student).
Future Job Opportunities
Another reason why studying abroad is such a beneficial opportunity is that it looks good on college applications and future resumes. According to “Greenheart Travel”, studying abroad can significantly improve the chances of getting into certain colleges. In fact, multiple studies prove that students who have studied abroad have higher GPAs than regular students. According to Green Heart Travel, studying in different countries and learning about new cultures gives you skills and knowledge that universities admire. By studying abroad, you can specify and decide on majors, get accepted into special scholarships, and learn social skills that will take you far in life. These skills improve students’ abilities to communicate and adapt to new environments. Learning how to interact with those with language barriers can help teach you how to interact with people in any situation, no matter where you are. Interviews go smoother, presenting in front of large groups becomes easier, etc. These are all things that colleges look for and want in their students and applicants (US News).
Connections All Over the World
The final reasons that show just how beneficial studying abroad can be are the cross-cultural connections and the life-long friendships that will be created. Going to new countries and bonding with people who have all sorts of different stories is an incredible opportunity that most people don’t get to experience. Studying abroad brings chances to communicate with those who don’t speak your language and to get to know those who have completely different backgrounds than you. These conversations and memories build new relationships and new understandings of the world. (US News)
What are the benefits of a study abroad program?
To examine how this looks on a more local level, we examined a study abroad program at a neighboring private school. We interviewed a Harpeth Hall student who participated in Winterim for the first time this year. Winterim is a three-week experience where lower-classmen participate in unique classes on campus, and upperclassmen can either travel somewhere or engage in an internship with an array of different places to go (Harpeth Hall). We asked to expand on her experience as a freshman in Winterim. Following her experiences, she thinks experiencing a new culture, seeing new things, and engaging oneself in a new language is something uniquely beneficial for high school students. She learned about a trip of seniors who went all around Europe and looked at art, and she said it was so unique for the girls who had never been out of the country. Experiencing a new culture and living there for a couple of weeks was also special to her sister who went to Japan this year. She thinks that having Winterim in their curriculum makes their school stand out from any other. She’s looking forward to the next four years of this program and can’t wait until she can travel as an upperclassman.
Conclusion
Ensworth does not have a program for studying abroad yet, but we think they should. Based on the reasons above, studying abroad clearly has many benefits for young men and women. Studying abroad introduces different learning styles, showcases many new cultures, expands future job opportunities, and builds connections all over the world. Winterim is just one example of the many study abroad programs all across the world. The benefits from this program are many, and for most students that have a program like this, it is the highlight of their high school career. Whether it’s just for upperclassmen or certain students, studying abroad benefits students of all ages, and we would love to see any ideas that Ensworth has to implement something similar.
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