June 30, 2011
Study Abroad, A Way to Reach a Better Life

Studying abroad may become one of the most important steps in the life of an individual.  Most parents realize this fact, but students find it very difficult to plan for a semester or a year in a foreign country, since their priorities and immediate goals are others like:  making friends, practicing their favorite sports and hobbies, finishing college education as fast as possible, becoming self sufficient, and having a happy and fruitful life. 

Those goals are quite valuable.  Young people are right in wishing to live a happy and fruitful life; and certainly, studying abroad can become the strongest engine to help them achieve such goals.

Research shows that spending part of one’s college education abroad increases personal development, self confidence, and maturity. It’s a powerful way to make good friends, not only within school or a neighborhood, but across borders.  A study conducted by Fredrik Jonsson and  Mikaela Almerud on the preference of European companies to hire employees shows that 70% of such firms consider social skills very important and 25% have hired employees who participated in the College mobility program named Erasmus.
Studying abroad will help reaching higher levels in sports and in other extracurricular activities, and could shorten and focus time in College by being exposed to more career options.

According to the 2010 UNESCO Global Education report, approximately 2.6 million students participated in College study abroad programs last year.  50% of them went to Europe, 23% chose North America (USA or Canada), 20% ventured to East Asia, and the remaining 7% travelled to other destinations like Latin America or Africa.
Finally, it is proven that spending a significant time abroad helps students better understand their own cultural values and biases; a meaningful way to guide them through a happy and fruitful life.

Blue Hill College