Traveling is more than an escape. It can teach us things about ourselves that get ignored under the weight of every day. Not only does it broaden our horizons, teaching us how we operate in foreign spaces, but it also sharpens our look in the business world. More and more businesses are getting outsourced and going international, meaning companies want people who are willing to go abroad when needed.
An individual who graduates having experienced a study abroad program will be seen with higher marks. A study abroad participant is eager for new experiences and is willing to learn new things whether it is cultural or business related and employers see that. The experience also indicates that the individual is better equipped to accept international perspectives compared to someone who hasn’t studied abroad.
Having never been outside of the United States myself, I spoke with a KSU alumni, Michael Mazza, to get a better perspective of not only what it means to travel, but to travel to a new country to study the culture with a group of like-minded people. Mazza, who has a bachelor’s degree in communication with a minor in Asian studies, , went to Shanghai and Beijing, China during the summer of 2010 for17 days.
Mazza said studying abroad was important because it helps in “establishing your multicultural identity to gain a better, broader understanding of the world” and that embracing a new culture “can be refreshing and challenging.”
KSU offers many study abroad programs that can be found on KSU’s home website and the Education Abroad Fair will be Oct. 2-3 to give students more information about upcoming programs. Students can also cultivate traveling experience and insight by taking advantage of vacations.
Cierra Shope, a senior majoring in psychology with a minor in statistics, discussed her experiences in Belize and Mexico. Her travels were not related to a study abroad program. She said that her travels helped her develop “communication skills in Spanish, which helps with conversational Spanish in speaking with clients.” Outside of business, she said that she just “really enjoyed seeing how other people live.”
Whether vacation or study abroad, traveling expands us as individuals and now is the time to do it. It can be a culture within the U.S. or in another country, but the experience will create a better understanding of the world we live in.
