Are You Ready to Grow?: Study Abroad for Teens

Is study outside the U.S. for you?

Traveling outside your home turf is not for everyone. The people who do it best tend to be curious about their neighbors on the planet: how they live and by what laws, traditions and norms; what they eat; how they raise their children or treat their old and sick; and most importantly, how they deal with conflict -- whether by force, peer pressure, palaver or negotiation.

Those who travel best tend to be flexible, adaptable, unafraid of making mistakes, and resilient. They recognize that there are multiple ways to be successful in life, not just the ways they know best. They are willing to put aside the attitudes they take for granted and gain understanding of how other peoples live their lives. If you are not curious about the world, and like a regular schedule, stay at home! But if you like to test yourself, look for new frontiers and expand your perspective, pack light and explore the world. Down the road you could end up working for the United Nations in Kosovo or East Timor, for the State Department in Africa, or for Citibank in Asia.

Whether you'll eventually work in the U.S. or overseas, the self-knowledge and cultural information learned firsthand from international travel is irreplaceable. You can make a difference in the world, and the more you know about it, the bigger the difference you will make.

Sidebars

4 More Items You Might be Interested In:

Even though there’s a lot of work to do when you’re studying overseas, you’ll regret it if you don’t take advantage of every waking moment to explore your surroundings. Meet a great role model, who flexed her Wings over China.

Caught up in Macedonia’s age-old conflict, Maren Curtis made the conscious choice to bring her ethnically-varied friends together, and to fully engage with an unstable country. The rewards were enormous.

When you become a living link between the U.S. and another country, it’s good for everybody. Keep an open mind and leave room for new ideas!

Jennifer Archibeque was ready for the challenge of visiting Colombia, where she could learn Spanish better than she could in any classroom at home.