By: Jozlyn Gauthier
Studying abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity that more college students should take advantage of. The program gives students an opportunity to travel to unique locations around the globe with their peers while having the opportunity to learn.
Cultural Experiences
Having the chance travel to a foreign country provides students with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in different culture. Victoria Vitale, 20, spoke about ways that an intercultural experience was beneficial to her through study abroad to Florence, Italy. Vitale said it helped her to expand her knowledge of public relations and graphic design on a global scale, and she was able to learn how her major was differentiated in a country outside of her own.
Understanding how your area of study is applied around the world allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the field as a whole and can open up doors for international careers, giving students a competitive edge while applying for jobs. Studying abroad can allow for a unique understanding of your field that couldn’t be obtained in your typical classroom at your university and is valued by employers.
Personal Growth
Flying across the country to live and learn for a period of time is a big deal Students speak of it as an unforgettable life changing experience. Anna Kendall, 21, spoke about the personal growth she achieved that benefitted her in a professional capacity from her study abroad experience in Florence, Italy. Kendall said studying abroad gave her an opportunity to figure a lot of things out for herself such as navigating a different city, meeting new people and building connections. She shared about how the experience made her feel more independent and confident professionally. Character building experiences are important to have while shaping yourself into a well-rounded professional.
Communication Skills
Overseas travel allows for the unique experience to develop the skill of communicating across language barriers. Ashlee Croy, 21, shared that studying abroad gave her the opportunity to learn how to work with people who spoke a different language for the first time and how to present to someone that speaks a different language while she was studying abroad in Florence, Italy. This skill takes dedication and patience to develop, and is highly sought after in the professional world. Having experience communicating through language barriers is an excellent resume builder, as future business partners and clients could speak a different language.
Want to Study Abroad?
Interested in studying abroad? CMU’s study abroad program hosts 30-minute information sessions weekly in Ronan 344 on Mondays at 11 a.m., Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 2 p.m. Applications for summer and fall 2019 are open now. Schedule an appointment with an advisor today and begin your study abroad journey.