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Why High School Students Should Study Abroad — and Why We Should Help Them Do It 

 May 1, 2015

By  Laura Kosloff

The article highlighted below, written by , former speechwriter for the NATO secretary-general, is a good piece on the value of studying abroad in high school.  He touches on several topics I think important:

  • Encouraging U.S. students to study abroad: critical, in my opinion, for all the other reasons mentioned below.
  • Making study abroad more accessible to a wider group of potential students.  Study abroad has always suffered from only being available to those who can afford it.
  • Long-term benefits from study abroad: learning another language and culture, improving one’s resume for college and future job prospects, learning about one’s own capabilities.
  • Importance in a global economy of having citizens who understand the world just a bit more.

I also thought this article was, in a way, a nice tribute to the bravery and motivation of the high school students around the world who take the leap and study abroad as teenagers without really having a clue about what lies before them.

As Stephenson notes:

Studying abroad is, first and foremost, an instructive exercise in failure. . . . the lesson you learn — that initial setbacks, patience and work are the prerequisites for eventual success — is more important than an A in Calculus.  That lesson can’t be taught. It must be learned firsthand.  A high school year abroad is a quick and dirty way to discover just how ignorant you are. As such, it’s the door to a lifetime of learning and discovery.

 

You can read Stephenson’s article here:  Why High School Students Should Study Abroad.

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