Written By: Erika Larsen
Major: Public Health
Program: Sunway University, Malaysia
After having spent time with my family and friends upon my return, I realized something. The things that I experienced and the people that I met while traveling, studying, and living abroad changed me. I learned that the world is so much bigger than I thought it was and everything that we see on social media and the news is generally one-sided. Traveling opened my mind to the endless possibilities that lie before me. It made me realize that I am young and I need to take advantage of that. Studying abroad made me realize that there is so much more out there than books and lectures. There are experiences worth living and people worth listening too. Yes, education is important, but exploring personal interest, such as traveling, sports, or volunteering, is just as important. Living abroad has taught me that United States citizens are very like-minded. We tend to surround ourselves with people that have the same beliefs on politics, relationships, and careers. Although this can be beneficial, we also need people in our lives to challenge our values and beliefs. That is the only way to stimulate growth and development.
While abroad I talked to people from all walks of life. I talked to elders and youth and in general, they were willing to share their story with me. I learned about many religions and historical backgrounds. I gained insight into how generations have adapted to the changing society. It was eye opening to see so many religions, races, and unique people coexist within one region. Although the United States is known as a melting pot, we do not cherish or celebrate the diversity that we have the privilege of hosting. Being abroad taught me that our news outlets make us fear people that are different than we when we should be listening to their story and encouraging them to pursue their future careers and life plans because they are defined as human and not as a single ethnicity or background. I plan on sharing the importance of getting to know a person uniquely, rather than judging them for their birth country or heritage, with friends and family in the United States.
I also found some amazing opportunities to explore the vast world we inhabit. I trekked through the oldest forest in southeast Asia, and traveled by plane, bus, car, scooter, and foot to six different countries. It was humbling to see a part world nearly untouched by humans and another part so consumed by humans that is nearly destroyed. Although the United States is so geographically unique because it has deserts, mountains, plains, forests, beaches, ect., sometimes we have to leave the United States to realize the beauty of this world and our effects on it. I want to come home and share my experiences to encourage all generations to take a chance and live a little because you truly do not know what you will find that you love.
Study abroad has broken so many social, academic, and personal barriers for me. I found that when paired with cultural interaction, academic study can change a person’s outlook on life and create a well-educated and worldly human-being. There are so many lessons from study abroad that I will be able to extrapolate and apply to my future social, academic, and professional. I want to listen before I speak, try new things every year, and not allow society to cloud my worldly perspective.
Categories: Trying new things, Adventures, Changes, Learning abroad, Travel Tips, Life Lessons