Nobonita Chowdhury
A previous article I wrote elaborated on the sea of study abroad opportunities lying in wait for Bangladeshi high school students. So this time I want to convince readers (especially ones who are a bit unsure about taking that extra step to apply) why studying abroad in high school might be a good option for them.
There are a wide variety of options available for Bangladeshi students to study abroad in high school, including a number of exchange programs offered by the U.S. embassy. But moving on, here are some reasons regarding why you should consider leaving your nest early.
EXPERIENCE!
Studying abroad means immersing in a new culture. With the increased pressure on schoolwork in college, it is much easier to make the most out of your study abroad experience while still in high school. If you’re in a non English speaking country, you also have more time to learn the local language and really get to connect with the people. High school study abroad experiences also help you with life after high school. It looks good on university applications, and gives the impression that you can adapt well to new learning environments. The experience itself allows you to learn more about yourself as a person.
TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
Whenever you’re studying abroad, you’ll always end up having opportunities to travel (even more!), regardless of your situation. Boarding schools usually have breaks when the dorms are closed to students. So unless you’re studying someplace like India which is closer to home, it is unlikely that you’d end up going back during those short breaks. But fear not, for you will always have peers stuck in the same situation. AKA you and your peers will go on A LOT of trips together. it will be super fun: I guarantee it!
INDEPENDENCE
If you’ve spent your entire life being sheltered by your parents, then prepare for an adventure of a lifetime. When you study abroad, you’ll gain an almost foreign sense of independence. But the independence also comes with responsibilities. This means doing your own laundry, managing your own groceries, and handling your own visa issues. All these responsibilities come down on you like a culture shock if you’re not used to it. But then again, these are valuable skills that you’ll carry for the rest of your life.
CULTURAL AWARENESS
Studying abroad also makes you more culturally aware. You suddenly realize what a big place the world is. It is really easy to get away with being culturally ignorant in your native country. But when you’re living in another country, you’re forced to look at the environment through a different lens. You find out that not everything is black and white. A lot of world leaders have endorsed study abroad programs as a way to bring peace to the world. After all, people wouldn’t be fighting if they took the time to understand each other. Furthermore, you might even enjoy learning about the natives of your host country and their lifestyle.
As someone who has studied abroad for two years in high school, I can assure you that studying abroad was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I made friends from over fourteen countries around the world, went on a Europe tour, and learnt more about the world than I ever thought I could. If affording it is an issue, then there are plenty of financial aid/scholarships out there. The only trick is in finding the right program for yourself.