Studying Abroad Just Might Change Your Life

Deciding to study abroad is hardly simple. The possibility of spending an entire semester outside of your comfort zone, living in a different part of the world, is a difficult choice to make. There are so many factors to consider and it’s hard to know if it will be worth all the time, money and potential risks.

Though study-abroad programs certainly seem appealing, with their pictures of warm Spanish beaches and houses piled along the Italian coast, I had to wonder if the reality lived up to the idea. To get a better idea of whether studying abroad is really worth it, I spoke to students who are in various stages of their travel abroad experiences.

I wanted to hear from someone preparing to head abroad about what they hope to get out of their time. I spoke with junior biological engineering student Auggie Tupper during an airport layover in San Francisco on the way to his semester abroad in New Zealand.

Tupper, a born-and-raised Montanan, told me about his desire for an experience different from anything he has ever seen. “Montana is all I’ve ever known, everything I’ve ever known is here, and I have no idea what I’m in for, and that’s scary, but it's great,” he said.

Although he has no idea what to expect during his four months in New Zealand, the unknown is what he looks forward to the most. “It's awesome to hear the stories, but I want to live them,” he said.

In many ways, it seems the unknown is actually a huge draw for students considering going abroad. Tupper also told me about how hearing others’ stories influenced his decision. “A big part for me was meeting guys who were here from abroad, hearing stories about wild adventures, and wanting to be part of it,” he said.

After hearing about how Tupper was influenced by foreign exchange students studying here at MSU, I was curious to see if their experience lived up to what they expected. Ollie Trew, an exchange student from London, has spent the entire school year here. 

“I had only seen America through social media, but coming here is very different to what I’d seen,” Trew said. “I didn’t think I’d meet as many nice people as I have, and the mountains and skiing are incredible — just being in the natural beauty of America.”

Trew was absolute in his take on the worthiness of studying abroad. “I want to do it all over again, and if you have the opportunity to do it, do it,” he said.

To me, Trew’s experience reinforced the idea that studying abroad grants one access to new perspectives, and that diving into the unknown is absolutely worth the risk.

After speaking to students currently engaged in their study-abroad experience, I wanted to hear from someone who'd already returned from and reflected on their time away from MSU.

Senior business management student Harrison Faulkner spent his semester abroad taking classes on a cruise ship, exploring 11 countries in Northern Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Faulkner’s words reinforced what Tupper hoped for and what Trew is currently living.

“It enhanced my worldview for sure, and it's the best decision I’ve made in college, hands down, by far,” Faulkner said. He added that his time abroad forced him out of his comfort zone and granted him experiences and connections with people that have stayed with him beyond his return. 

“You stay connected with those people. I have a long-distance girlfriend that I’m still seeing from it,” Faulkner said. He also said his biggest takeaway was experiencing different cultures and lifestyles.

“Just the way they go about certain issues I thought was really interesting and varies even between countries that are super close,” Faulkner said. He returned to MSU with new friends and a perspective that couldn’t be found anywhere else.

Out of all the people I spoke with, not a single one felt their time abroad wasn’t worth every second.

According to the MSU Office of International Programs, MSU currently has 198 students abroad in individual programs and the number grows each year. It appears that more and more students are embracing the leap outside of their comfort zone and diving into the unknown. After my conversations, I believe that studying abroad is one of the most worthwhile things one can do while in college and that every MSU student should do what they can to be involved in that kind of life-changing experience.