What better excuse to fly alone to a different country as a young adult, than to further your education? Over the years, studying abroad has become a global phenomenon, as eager students’ cross continents, countries, borders, and oceans, in search of world-class education.
While moving to a foreign country to study, is intimidating and no easy feat – many young students still pack their bags, endure tearful farewells with family and friends, and hop on a plane. The simple truth is, pursuing an education overseas has many life-changing benefits that certainly outweigh any fears and uncertainties, that they may have.
Here are 5 reasons why you should consider studying overseas:
- Time to Explore
Starting off with possibly everyone’s favourite reason; opportunities to explore! Not only do international students get to sightsee, visit landmarks or natural wonders, and try their hand at local activities, they also get to visit neighbouring countries during their longer weekends or holidays. Studying abroad provides the perfect opportunity to see the world, travel, and explore – before the demands of work-life take all that away.
- Educate Yourself
While you are pursuing quality education, facilities, and resources that will significantly improve your erudition, you will also be presented with many opportunities to learn other things as well. For example, you may have to learn a new language or a common local skill, in order to thrive in your new environment. You may also have to adjust your learning habits to suit a new style of teaching – as most countries have their own unique education systems and teaching methods. Although this can be difficult for some, in the long run, it makes you more versatile and skilled. While certain situations can be daunting and overwhelming at first, you will quickly learn how to adapt, and at the end of the day, you benefit from the experience. Simply put, going abroad will enrich you with plenty of opportunities to learn new things, opportunities that you may not get where you come from.
- Cultural Knowledge
Similar to the second reason, studying abroad will also teach you about cultural differences. The chance to fully immerse yourself in a completely different culture and environment, is like no other. You will get to try cuisines from a new culture, learn about their customs and traditions, pick up local knowledge, and you will also find yourself in exciting and different social atmospheres. Depending on where you go to study, you may be witnessing a completely new way of life. From experiences like these, you will slowly learn distinct cultural perspectives, learn how to better understand and accept people from different backgrounds, and develop an open-minded and respectful attitude.
- Personal Growth
As mentioned earlier, studying abroad is not easy. However, personal growth is definitely guaranteed. Living and studying alone in another country, will shape you into an independent and responsible adult, and will give you plenty of time to get to know yourself better. With no support system, no homemade meals, and no one to help during a moment of crisis – it truly is the perfect crash course to becoming a full-fledged adult. Knowing full well that no one is coming to their rescue, students are forced to learn how to manage their expenses, resolve issues, clean their living spaces, manage their meals and study time, and maybe even juggle a part-time job. Solitary situations like these also teach young adults how to communicate effectively, how to form good social circles, and how to make smart decisions. Overall, studying abroad is a humbling experience, that can really help someone grow and adapt to diverse situations.
- Social Life
Regardless of which country you choose to study in, you will certainly meet loads of people from all walks of life. This presents you with a unique and enriching opportunity, to socialise and bond with people from diverse cultures. Not only does this allow you to learn about the culture and traditions of the country you are studying in, but also about the countries and customs of your foreign acquaintances. Many lifelong friendships start when students go overseas, because they live, travel, and study, with the same circle of friends. As such, not only are you gaining rewarding and long-lasting international friendships, but these friends can also become important networking connections later in the future.
There you have it, five solid reasons why you should step out of your comfort zone and consider studying overseas! Ready to start your education journey abroad and reap these amazing benefits?