By Sabrina Fay
The world is a vast place. Every town, city, state and country has a history and culture as deep, as layered, as fascinating as your own. In Italy you can find vast coliseums once the arena of great warriors; in the Yucatan Peninsula you may unearth relics of the lost Mayan civilization; in Australia, a veritable cornucopia of specialized animals await your curious eye; and of course, in Tanzania and the surrounding land, you will walk the place that birthed mankind itself. It's one thing to read about these places and what they have to offer; in our digital age we now have greater capabilities than ever to communicate with and learn about all corners of the earth. It is another thing entirely to walk the Great Wall of China or to dip your toes in the River Seine. Most people agree that little can compare to the unique sensation of experiencing humanity from across the globe.
"If it's so easy, then, wouldn't everyone do it?" you may ask, posing both a valid question and providing a transition to the meat of this post. Indeed, travel is costly, and nowhere as costly as what one usually spends when they arrive at their destination. Journeys abroad are a luxury and a privilege many people go their entire lives without receiving, but for those who also have the privilege of an education, it may be closer than you think.
Studying abroad is more widespread and more popular than ever. As a college or even high school student you could very easily find the opportunity to travel overseas for the educational benefit. Many colleges offer study abroad programs that cost no extra tuition; they can be separate program offered by the college, part of a class, or an abroad internship students may be connected with through their institution's career center or a professor. Often these trips are entwined with community service, and you can offer meaningful aid to a new area while taking in the sights and culture. The opportunities are nearly endless and span across all continents and climates. Some reasons for studying abroad include language immersion, teaching English to non-English speakers, ecological or scientific research, an exchange program with a foreign university, a diplomatic internship, offering humanitarian aid or going on a mission trip, or research for a thesis. Though there are a plethora of abroad opportunities at the collegiate level, there are also a lot of avenues you can take as a high school student.
High school students may also have the chance to study abroad as part of an extracurricular service trip or even as a class trip, but it is more likely that they will do so through an outside program. There are a large variety of programs available and worth looking into for high schoolers. In some cases the costs are steep, but all of the ones displayed offer aid and in some cases a full scholarship:
ACIS travel grant - an essay contest that comes with the distinction of winning as well as funds for international travel.
Semester at Sea - this program takes place on a ship that travels to various places around the world, providing a unique experience in a nautical setting.
Summer at University College Dublin - this program offers high school students the chance to live and learn in Ireland for two weeks. Some GLCPS students have been lucky enough to have this experience.
Reach Cambridge - students can study and live in Cambridge, England for three weeks, and about two fully-funded scholarships are given each year.
Congress-Bundestag Exchange Program - this nearly year-long program is free and allows students the opportunity to study at a high school in Germany. It includes language training, a stay with a host family, and an internship in your interested career field!
Whether you're in secondary school or a higher level of education, there is truly no better time to travel the world than when you're a student. Take a risk, make a change, and add an experience to your life that you will never forget.