In class, everyone fantasizes about being on a boat in the middle of the Caribbean, skiing down a mountain in the Swiss Alps or maybe even getting lost in the streets of Barcelona.
Turning those fantasies into reality is easy with Auburn Abroad, which has Study Abroad 101 sessions every Thursday at 3 p.m. and Friday at 11 a.m. in 242 Foy Hall. Through Auburn Abroad, students have traveled to all seven continents. Even though the internet and social globalization have made the world considerably smaller, there are many reasons to leave home.
Auburn University students are greeted with an abundance of opportunities with programs for nearly every major and many minors. Through Auburn's study abroad opportunities, the world will literally become your classroom.
“Anyone can travel, but being able to completely dive into another culture is something you can only do while studying abroad," Auburn student Emilee Sprinkle said. "I learned to live like a local, and I loved every minute of it.”
Sprinkle said experiencing another culture can often be overwhelming. You will be abandoning everything you know while embracing the unknown.
“I’m not going to lie – I was scared, but that soon faded when I met my fellow peers and the professor that traveled with us," Sprinkle said. "I met three of my best friends by studying abroad, and it is a bond that will never be broken."
College students are constantly applying for clubs, internships and jobs, but having a cultural experience from another country gives you a vital edge in applications.
“I have applied for multiple clubs here at Auburn and a job," Auburn student Sally Mankins said. "During each interview, I was asked about my study abroad experience, and I firmly believe that was what set me apart from other students."
Society is globalized now more than ever, so it is important for students to develop a diverse worldview by studying abroad. An international education helps promote a world where everyone can get along. Whether you are studying medicine, literature or economics, being able to think from a multi-national perspective will help you overcome everyday challenges and think up creative solutions.
“When I got back from Belize, I never saw the world as I did before," Mankins said. "I was able to get out of my little bubble and realize that the world I live in is not as perfect as I thought it was.”
By studying abroad, students are able to see the world through someone else’s eyes and gain life-changing experiences that will alter the way they see the United States and even the people on Auburn’s campus.
These insights, on top of gaining lifelong friendships, the best memories and an adventure of self-discovery, make study abroad programs an opportunity too good to pass up.
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