Explore the World

Recent LHC alum Kenny Kressin in Australia.
Posted by Dr. Irma Lopez on

When talking to prospective WMU students, Anthony Helms, LHC Assistant Dean and Director of Advising, invariably points out to them that their four years in college make up a gift from life to totally invest in themselves - a period of time in which they will encounter new ideas, challenges, and opportunities that will shape them in ways they might not imagine. He warns them, as well, not to forget that this four-year present is not likely to repeat itself: once graduates enter the workforce, other commitments and responsibilities will intrude. Every time Anthony says this to a group of eager and enthusiastic high school students who are ready to tackle college, I go back to my own time in college. I remember different parts of it, but inevitably my mind drifts to my study abroad experiences in Spain as a native Mexican student. This college experience of studying abroad, first in Madrid and then in Barcelona, shaped me forever and had lasting effects on my developing into a mature adult and, ultimately, into the person I am now. And I should add that I have never encountered a person yet who has not expressed how transformative an event this has been for them - including my husband, who studied for a year at Stirling University in Scotland during his undergraduate years at the University of Kansas. We both agree that this exposure to the world beyond our comfortably known existence expanded our perspective. It gave us an initial connection with each other that led to our relationship. For each of us, it was a life-changing exposure that contributed to fostering an enduring bond.

Why is studying abroad so extraordinary? And if it is so empowering, why doesn’t everybody do it?

For one thing, at the right age, this experience shakes up your world view. Your earlier understandings give way to new discernment about yourself, your known world, and the world at large. Student Raegan Paty has this to say about the effect it had on her: “Studying abroad left me wanting more from the world. Once I saw that there was life outside of Michigan that I could reach, my mind began to race with excitement.” Raegan is right: once you venture beyond the familiar, your world opens up, and you cannot resist becoming a forever traveler. In a new land, you gain independence, confidence, different types of skills, new interests, appreciations, and more. Living amid the new and exciting routines of another country provides delightful surprises and tough challenges all at once. You are forced to adjust quickly, and it requires flexibility, open-mindedness, prompt action, creativity, empathy, and much more. New costumes, foods, sights, tastes, noises, schedules, and more are constantly stimulating your mind and feelings.

But wondrous experiences sometimes have dislikes or disappointments attached. These can frustrate us until we learn to divest ourselves of our own ethnocentrism, which is natural to all cultures. Once we do so, we can learn that someone else's way of life is as valid and exhilarating as our own. When we come to terms with this fact and are open to seeing it through the eyes of the culture we are temporarily in, realizing that this new community enriches our lives too, we start reaping the satisfaction and enjoyment that comes from learning about and loving the “other.” The sooner we part from our preconceptions, the quicker the fun begins. For some it takes longer than others, but the support of fellow students, staff members, and host families helps us navigate those moments of doubt and confusion. In the end, we come out of these internal discords stronger, wiser, and definitively transformed for good. On the subject of expanding horizons and gaining enriching cross-cultural experiences, student Kelly Tauschek-Hill has this to say:

"The biggest impact is really how I feel my experiences changed me. I remember having a hard time coming back to the U.S. because I had grown so much in Italy only to come back and try to fit into the space the old me had left behind. I felt like a new person in the "old me's" shoes. But I had learned enough about myself to shed that old version and start to show people who the new me was. And what I found was that I was able to cultivate the same level of community and growth that I loved so much in Italy and bring those same principals back to the U.S. I was doing better in school, I had healthier relationships with my friends/family, and I finally felt like I was living up to my true potential. My heart still soars when I get a chance to share my experience with someone considering studying abroad. It has sparked a lifelong passion in my life, and I can never be thankful enough.”

As to the second question, “Why don’t more students study abroad?” Here are few misconceptions:

It’s more expensive. In reality, a semester abroad is less expensive that staying at WMU. The total cost of the program includes room, board, tuition, fees and health insurance, which comes to less money than students pay for the same things during a semester or year at the home institution.

Not able to graduate on time. All of the credits earned abroad fulfill major/minor and Gen Ed requirements, or hours toward graduation. None of these credits are wasted.

Don’t have money to study abroad. Frequently, students pay only half of the cost of the program because of the scholarships they get. There are plenty of scholarships across the University devoted to promoting this experience - at the college and department level, through the Haenicke Institute and the Office of Financial Aid, and more. The Lee Honors College study abroad scholarship application is due on February 15 and October 15 of each year.

Study abroad is not just for those who study another language. There are plenty of programs to English-speaking countries - plus, there are plenty of programs taught in English in countries where English is not the native language: Argentina, China, Italy, Japan, France, Germany, Nepal, Norway, Spain, and others.

In summary, study abroad is one of the best investments you can make in yourself and your career. As Dr. Paulo Zagalo-Melo, associate provost of the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, points out, "International experience is empowering. Businesses know this, which is why, according to QS Global, over 80 percent of employers seek graduates with study abroad experience.”

Check out the Bronco Bloggers Abroad page, where students share their experiences before, during, and after their time abroad. There are also more stories on an older blog site as well.