I find it really interesting the amount of focus that is put on “studying” abroad during college. Granted, for many students, it is a important first chance to really explore another country. Another language. Another culture. It’s also an “easier” time to go–financially, personally, and professionally.
The recent White House summit even focused on encouraging and facilitating students to study abroad. The U.S. Government is actually funding a U.S. Study Abroad Office.
[Disclosure: I didn’t go abroad during college, for a few reasons. The biggest was horses. I wanted to keep riding, and had an incredibly talented young horse that I wanted to compete. She hurt her leg during my junior spring, when I most likely would have been abroad, and I never competed her again. Good life lesson–dreams die and you better be able to adapt.]
Anyway. I look back at my time in college and my decision to not go to another country to study. I have but one, real regret: that I didn’t learn a second language fluently, which may have been aided by going abroad. But do I regret not moving overseas for a semester? Not really.
When I was a junior in college, I’m pretty sure I wasn’t focused enough to fully appreciate the opportunities that going abroad would have offered. As an introvert, I probably would have stuck close to home, with expat friends, and not explored like I should have. I would have been distracted by missing my horses and horse friends. I don’t know if I would have chosen a country where I was forced to speak in a language other than English. Honestly, I’m not sure I really missed out on anything except an international flight and maybe some late nights.
Perhaps anecdotal, but I’m going to say what is so frequently left unwritten, even if it is talked about. For many students in high-pressure schools (yes, I did go to an Ivy), going abroad as part of a college/university study abroad program is an escape. A way to relax, party to your heart’s content, and NOT worry about grades, about finals, and about prelims. It’s a way to go somewhere pretty much carefree, while someone else (probably your parents) foots the bill for your ‘cultural’ learning.
Now, there are most definitely those students that take advantage of this wonderful opportunity–because, despite my pessimism, that is most definitely what going abroad is. Those that take the opportunity to learn a new language (or 2), those that become experts in European Art, work or volunteer in a developing country, those that get a diving license, or truly realize a new passion for study.
And not that there is anything wrong with studying abroad to take a break from school and party. But for goodness sake, can we start calling a spade a spade?
I question whether or not going abroad as part of a formal study abroad program really changes your perspective on travel or increases your desire to travel later in life. I have college classmates that went abroad and have not gone since. Not once (except maybe to Cancun on spring break)–they didn’t realize what an international flight costs, some couldn’t even figure out how to book things without help, others really believe America is the only game in town after venturing out. I also have college classmates that have gone all around the world, and never went abroad during college. And a lot somewhere in the middle.
Does study abroad during college really increase your competitiveness or capabilities in the workforce? Again, I have serious doubts. It depends what you make of your study abroad experience, but there other ways to develop skills, expertise, and personal relationships. Even globally. A quick look around the blogosphere makes it clear that travel doesn’t have to be expensive and it’s all about priorities.
So why the emphasis? Should we be focusing on going abroad (realizing that for many this just an extended vacation from college), or should we be focusing on qualities that really make a difference–desire to learn, understand, reflect, be pensive, be kind, etc.? Don’t these qualities really matter more than a semester studying/partying outside of the United States?
Studying abroad is a one-time thing, a one-off. I believe that focusing/emphasizing on its importance is short-sighted. It’s a totally personal and/or academic decision, with no right or wrong answer. Maybe it’s time we think outside the box and acknowledge that this isn’t any sort of panacea solution to create global citizens.
