How a Study Abroad Trip Can Change Your Life

Venture to a new country, learn a new skill, expand your horizons — what’s not to love? Taking a study abroad trip can offer you all of these opportunities and then some. Are you a college junior or senior? Read on to discover more about the beauty of choosing to travel overseas to study and how it can change your life.

Here at Alumni Direct, we are a huge fan of personal development and encouraging individuals to push through their boundaries and challenge themselves. True growth exists on the other side of your comfort zone and we often discover beauty in the unknown. Whether it’s a new career direction or gaining a different global perspective, choosing to study abroad can be truly life-changing.

So, why choose to travel to another country to secure your degree? What makes this journey so exciting rather than studying in your hometown where you feel at home? Let’s take a closer look at some ways that studying abroad can change your life:

Study abroad to invite new experiences into your life

New cultures, new people, new opportunities — the list is endless! Studying a course overseas offers you a whole new perspective on life and opens up a window of growth opportunities. From living independently to exploring a new country and getting used to a completely different way of life, there is a lot to be learned from this opportunity.

As you learn to live on your own and grow, you harness new skills to survive and thrive. Discipline, self-control, motivation, and confidence are only a handful of the skills you can acquire from this big move. You can carry these skills with you throughout your entire adult life! Great, right?

Study abroad to step out of your comfort zone

“You never change your life until you step out of your comfort zone; change begins at the end of your comfort zone.” ― Roy T. Bennett

We often find great joy in overcoming challenges and pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone. Moving abroad invites you to take a fresh look at life by thinking outside the box when faced with certain obstacles. By exploring a different avenue to life and what you’re used to, you are adding value to your journey.

When we are faced with new challenges the mind remembers how we dealt with them and then when we know how to respond when a similar situation arises. It’s when we challenge ourselves and try things that we have never done before that we create profound and meaningful experiences.

Embrace a new culture

International students have an academic advantage as they can embrace a sense of diversity. You have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, who you may have never even encountered before you decided to move. You can learn from others and share your own experiences with them which is a great energy exchange and can create lifelong friendships. There’s nothing better than connecting over something so authentic and real. By sharing your values you can honor a level of respect for each other.

After a week of studying you can enjoy your weekends by exploring a new city! Who knows, maybe even learning a new language? It’s a great way to expand your resume and life skills.

Now that you have an insight into the benefits of studying abroad, we would like to share some real experiences of people who have taken a course in another country:

“Best decision ever. For me it helped me grow in confidence, build my network and make lifelong friends.” – Owen, Ireland

“Choosing to study in China taught me how to live. I was faced with obstacles that I had to overcome and this taught me a set of new skills that I now use in my everyday life.” – Rita, Portugal

“Not only did I benefit from a higher level of education, but I also discovered a new lease of life as I explored a new culture and met friends for life.” – Kylie, California