Studying abroad is an excellent way for students of all ages to enhance their foreign language skills, level of independence, and ability to think critically. These aspects fall within the heaps of knowledge and personality traits that are developed while embarking on a study abroad experience, unique to every student. Particularly for those individuals who have a certain interest in languages, international affairs, history or art, studying abroad is always a good idea for both personal growth and for the resume. 

The term study abroad is generally associated with college students. It is very popular at this day in age for college students, regardless of their major, to spend at least a semester outside of the US, if not more. Less common are those students who choose to embark on an international academic experience when they are still in high school. This is the case for numerous reasons, starting with the fact that opportunities to do so are less frequent and less discussed; though the powerful impact of such experiences on a younger mind is incredibly valuable. In this article, I will share why study abroad experiences during youth and adolescence are critical for young students, both on paper and in person.

I make this claim as both a former study abroad student and a recruiter. My high school study abroad experience opened me up to a world of invaluable relationships, heightened cultural awareness, and fluency in a foreign language. As our world gets smaller and smaller, these aspects become more useful to us as students, professionals, and people.

On paper – What value does study abroad in high school add to a resumee?

1. International experiences set you apart. 

In a world where test scores and athletic achievements are seemingly the most common ways a high school student can excel on paper, international academic experiences provide a curveball opportunity for standing out. It’s especially valuable for students who may not be interested in pursuing a future of college sports or strictly academic vigor, and want to contribute something more diverse to their profiles. Since study abroad experiences are more exclusive to college students or graduates, their presence on a high school student’s resumee is highly unique and telling of the student’s probable personality characteristics. Which brings me to our next point… 

2. Studying abroad at a young age shows initiative and ambition.

There’s a difference between the inferences made about a student who studied abroad in college versus in high school. As a former student recruiter, when I came across a profile of a student who had embarked on an academic experience abroad before starting college, I always wanted to know more. Due to its less prevalent nature, making the decision to study abroad before college shows a unique level of initiative and self-driven ambition in a young student. Taking the initiative to travel at length and put oneself out of their comfort zone to pursue a curiosity allows someone to infer that they are dealing with a notably brave, flexible, and self-starting person. Especially at a young age, when taking advantage of an opportunity to go abroad often entails application forms, collaboration and convincing of the parents, and time away from home, the experience is much more reflective of these strong personality traits. 

3. Fluency in a foreign language stands out.

This is not only because our world is getting smaller and therefore naturally, the more languages you know, the more value you may serve. Studying a foreign language is time consuming. It puts the student in embarrassing and confusing situations. It forces you to let your guard down and laugh at yourself. We can even put aside the valuable display of ambition and drive that study abroad creates; learning a foreign language takes it a step further. It shows wit, perseverance, and the ability to think critically about oneself. People are left impressed when a young person explains to them that, no, the reason I speak Spanish isn’t because I learned it at home. I studied it and went abroad to perfect it, and now I’m fluent. It’s a wow factor. 

In person – What valuable impact does study abroad in high school have on a young mind?

1. Being abroad heightens our sense of self-awareness and critical thinking. 

The ability to exhibit elevated self-awareness and think critically about oneself are hard to come by even in adulthood. By partaking in the experience of studying abroad, young people get a kickstart to growing in these crucial aspects of knowledge and emotional intelligence. Studying abroad in high school made me reconsider the way I think; it prompted questions about myself in relationship to my own culture and upbringing. Suddenly, my 17-year-old brain was actively exploring parts of my psyche, like why I was so afraid of failure, or why the Spaniards are not disgusted by jealousy whereas Americans are. These are thoughts that inhibit us to become more considerate, self-correcting people both in adolescence and adulthood. 

2. We are more impressionable when we are young. 

Young brains are highly impressionable when it comes to both knowledge and mindset. The fact that we absorb more information with less effort at a young age is a given; it’s why a five-year-old can learn a new language just by listening to it, whereas a 35-year-old must put in seemingly endless amounts of effort to reach the same fluency level. In youth and adolescence, it is easier for our brains to grasp foreign concepts like languages and diverse ways of thinking. That’s why the younger we are exposed to them and forced to make sense of them, the better they stick. I’m talking about languages, yes, but also the ability to keep an open mind. By facing foreign concepts when we are young – for example, eating dinner in Spain at 10pm instead of 6pm back home in Massachusetts – we train ourselves to be open to adaptability and to maintain a flexible outlook. 

3. Authentic exploration is more precious at a young age. 

International experiences that take place in that special time between childhood and adulthood are invaluable. In this phase of our lives, it is more likely that the experience abroad will be less centered around finding bars where other Americans hang out, and more about discovering oneself and the culture around us through meaningful friendships, letting our guards down, and getting to feel more independent. At this age, an authentic experience is longer lasting in the impressions it has on us.  Even in the age of social media and connectivity, it allows a deeper connection with the place we visit and the people we meet. That value is continuous into our college application process, during college, and beyond. 

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Today’s guest post is by Shannon O’Brien, European Coordinator at Abbey Road Programs

Author bio: Shannon is an American expat whose career in Europe began with a study abroad experience in Spain when she was in high shcool. She is still active in the study abroad community in Italy and Spain, and works as European Coordinator for Abbey Road Programs, assisting other students in pursuing international educations.