Sunday, August 3, 2008
The ease of world-wide communications and travel coupled with unprecedented access to the Internet has spawned a truly global marketplace. One of the best ways for today’s college students to prepare to take their places in that arena is by leaving behind the familiar halls of their respective academic institutions and venturing out to study abroad.
“I think they come back with a greater appreciation of who they are, what they have and how lucky they are to be able to do these kinds of things,” said Dr. Sharynn Tomlin, director of International Studies at Angelo State University. “It really opens their eyes to the world and the possibilities out there. They learn that they don’t know everything and it generates a curiosity in them.”
Study abroad programs of varying lengths are available at most colleges and universities and many institutions are currently expanding their programs in response to the “shrinking” world. Independent programs are also available to students whose schools do not offer study abroad. Whichever route they choose, students involved in international study get what is often a once-in-a-lifetime experience that provides them with a variety of personal benefits.
ASU alum Josh Briones actually made two study abroad trips to Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, once as an undergrad and then again as a graduate student. He got to experience first-hand the academic advantages of foreign study.
“I really enjoyed the fact that the study abroad programs offer many hands on/real life experiences added on top of the classroom time,” Briones said. “It’s not every day that a student studying the World Trade Organization, the European Union or British Parliament gets to actually visit those places. They were truly exciting and exhilarating learning experiences and I would not trade my study abroad trips for anything.”
In addition to the academic experience, completing a study abroad program can often inspire students to adopt a new, more positive attitude that carries them to even greater success when they return to college and then head out to face the world.
“If you are an educator at the college level, it is really rare to see the impact that you have on an individual student,” said ASU government professor Dr. Ed Olson. “Occasionally, it will happen in the classroom or in your office, but you don’t see the kind of impact that you see on one of these international experiences. I have literally seen students’ lives changed right before my eyes, girls becoming women, boys becoming men and uneducated people becoming educated in a matter of weeks.”
Often, parents of study abroad students will also notice a change in them upon their return. Jan and Richard Roberts sent three of their sons to study abroad. Two of them went to Scotland to study business and one went to Costa Rica to study biology and ecological tourism.
“When they went to the university and then graduated, there was a sense of new confidence in them that came about through those years,” Jan said. “I think the same thing happened when they went on their international trips. They came back with a new inner confidence like ‘hey, I’m a grown-up now and I can deal with life.’”
Another major benefit of international study is the opportunity for students to meet the people and experience the cultures of other countries. ASU junior Jamie Mandujano found out just how enlightening that can be when he spent a semester studying at the University of Paris-Dauphine.
“It is really an opportunity to immerse yourself in another world that is not so different from ours, yet surprises you at every turn,” Mandujano said. “You gain a different perspective and you get to meet people from all parts of the world that you learn from and who become your good friends. I think it also lets you get away from the ‘normal,’ giving you the chance to grow and realize your full potential. Nothing can compare to it and you may never again come close to such an amazing experience.”
Whitney Meeks, who spent a summer studying in Scotland, echoed those sentiments.
“It was an excellent opportunity for me to experience the culture of other countries,” Meeks said. “Study abroad is also one of the only ways to actually experience what you learn in a book. The world is a huge place made up of people with millions of different ideas.”
International study trips can change the lives of today’s college students and better prepare them to strike out on their own and take on all the challenges that life can present. LaQueta and Harold Shelburne certainly believe that after sending all three of their daughters on international study trips.
“If you and your child have a good relationship such that you can trust them to go over there and spend your money and the university’s money wisely and come back a better, more knowledgeable person, I absolutely would recommend it,” LaQueta said. “We don’t live in this world by ourselves and we are not a country unto ourselves. You can read about stuff in a book, but when you are over there, it’s just a completely different thing.”
“I think they come back with a greater appreciation of who they are, what they have and how lucky they are to be able to do these kinds of things,” said Dr. Sharynn Tomlin, director of International Studies at Angelo State University. “It really opens their eyes to the world and the possibilities out there. They learn that they don’t know everything and it generates a curiosity in them.”
Study abroad programs of varying lengths are available at most colleges and universities and many institutions are currently expanding their programs in response to the “shrinking” world. Independent programs are also available to students whose schools do not offer study abroad. Whichever route they choose, students involved in international study get what is often a once-in-a-lifetime experience that provides them with a variety of personal benefits.
ASU alum Josh Briones actually made two study abroad trips to Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, once as an undergrad and then again as a graduate student. He got to experience first-hand the academic advantages of foreign study.
“I really enjoyed the fact that the study abroad programs offer many hands on/real life experiences added on top of the classroom time,” Briones said. “It’s not every day that a student studying the World Trade Organization, the European Union or British Parliament gets to actually visit those places. They were truly exciting and exhilarating learning experiences and I would not trade my study abroad trips for anything.”
In addition to the academic experience, completing a study abroad program can often inspire students to adopt a new, more positive attitude that carries them to even greater success when they return to college and then head out to face the world.
“If you are an educator at the college level, it is really rare to see the impact that you have on an individual student,” said ASU government professor Dr. Ed Olson. “Occasionally, it will happen in the classroom or in your office, but you don’t see the kind of impact that you see on one of these international experiences. I have literally seen students’ lives changed right before my eyes, girls becoming women, boys becoming men and uneducated people becoming educated in a matter of weeks.”
Often, parents of study abroad students will also notice a change in them upon their return. Jan and Richard Roberts sent three of their sons to study abroad. Two of them went to Scotland to study business and one went to Costa Rica to study biology and ecological tourism.
“When they went to the university and then graduated, there was a sense of new confidence in them that came about through those years,” Jan said. “I think the same thing happened when they went on their international trips. They came back with a new inner confidence like ‘hey, I’m a grown-up now and I can deal with life.’”
Another major benefit of international study is the opportunity for students to meet the people and experience the cultures of other countries. ASU junior Jamie Mandujano found out just how enlightening that can be when he spent a semester studying at the University of Paris-Dauphine.
“It is really an opportunity to immerse yourself in another world that is not so different from ours, yet surprises you at every turn,” Mandujano said. “You gain a different perspective and you get to meet people from all parts of the world that you learn from and who become your good friends. I think it also lets you get away from the ‘normal,’ giving you the chance to grow and realize your full potential. Nothing can compare to it and you may never again come close to such an amazing experience.”
Whitney Meeks, who spent a summer studying in Scotland, echoed those sentiments.
“It was an excellent opportunity for me to experience the culture of other countries,” Meeks said. “Study abroad is also one of the only ways to actually experience what you learn in a book. The world is a huge place made up of people with millions of different ideas.”
International study trips can change the lives of today’s college students and better prepare them to strike out on their own and take on all the challenges that life can present. LaQueta and Harold Shelburne certainly believe that after sending all three of their daughters on international study trips.
“If you and your child have a good relationship such that you can trust them to go over there and spend your money and the university’s money wisely and come back a better, more knowledgeable person, I absolutely would recommend it,” LaQueta said. “We don’t live in this world by ourselves and we are not a country unto ourselves. You can read about stuff in a book, but when you are over there, it’s just a completely different thing.”
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