Mentor Advice
Question
Why is it important to study abroad?
25 Replies from Mentors
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AliciaParent of Study Abroad StudentLoyola Marymount UniversityStudy abroad is important because you meet new people, experience new cultures and get to know different parts of the world. You learn things you are not accustomed to.
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SandraParent of Study Abroad StudentLoyola Marymount UniversityIt is a great experience and a great opportunity to travel. It allows you to learn a new culture and grow as an individual.
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AudreyParent of Study Abroad StudentLoyola Marymount UniversityStudying abroad enables students to experience new things that they could never experience in their home country or in their household. They are exposed to a new culture and a completely different way of life than what they are used to. No parent or teacher can teach them any of the knowledge that they gain while abroad.
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Bill ClintonFormer U.S. PresidentUnited StatesTo continue to compete successfully in the global economy and to maintain our role as a world leader, the United States needs to ensure that its citizens develop a broad understanding of the world, proficiency in other languages, and knowledge of other cultures. America's leadership also depends on building ties with those who will guide the political, cultural, and economic development of their countries in the future. A coherent and coordinated international education strategy will help us meet the twin challenges of preparing our citizens for a global environment while continuing to attract and educate future leaders from abroad.
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Brenda CoxManager for International and Advanced ProcurementBMW Manufacturing Co.As companies become more global, language skills are highly desirable, and now required in more positions as compared to ten or even five years ago. However, today, for a company or an individual to be effective and successful, a combination of skills is required.
One may have an excellent knowledge base in engineering or technology, perhaps even a Ph.D. and maybe bilingual. But if that individual has not developed good skills in communicating, interacting and people resource management, they have already limited their opportunities and chance of success…
The ability to work with a wide variety of personalities, cultures and values is imperative to carry out our responsibilities. -
KemiProgramming and Outreach Coordinator at an independent film co-opVictoria Society of Independent Film MakersAs a child, I dreamed of traveling to far off places. Now, I no longer dream about traveling, I have stood at the Great Wall of China, held a conversation with Tibetan Monks, climbed some of the mountain trails in the Himalayas and visited the Taj Mahal. My travels outside of the United States are even more valuable to me than my college degree. They have given me an appreciation of world cultures and an acceptance of differences.
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Russ FeingoldFormer U.S. Senator, WisconsinUnited StatesInternational education is necessary for our children to remain competitive in the increasingly global economy…Because the United States is increasingly connected to foreign economies, international education and exchanges are critical for the United States workforce to remain competitive – especially to fulfill the increased need for foreign language proficiency...
International education advances the United States’ global economic interests and has been shown to give students an advantage over their peers in the United States who have not been exposed to international experiences... -
LindaProgram Coordinator for Academic Collarboration for Underrepresented Enrollment in Nursing Program (ACUMEN) and Parent of Study Abroad StudentsClemson UniversityI think it is very important for young people to study abroad. Students learn about other parts of the world throughout their secondary education. If your son or daughter has an opportunity to see other parts of the world, I think they should not only take advantage of the opportunity, but should be strongly encouraged to do so. Our children need to be reminded that there is much knowledge to be gained and that the world is so much bigger than their own backyard.
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Karen Parfitt HughesFormer Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public AffairsU.S. Department of StateBefore 9/11—people abroad perceived the U.S. as being uninterested in the rest of the world. Our military, cultural and economic power "buy resentment around the world." It will take all of us to address that. Any American who travels abroad is an ambassador for our country, and I hope you’ll demonstrate the respect America has for different countries and cultures. I’d like more U.S. students to study abroad and more Americans to learn a foreign language.
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Angelina JolieActress and Goodwill AmbassadorUN Refugee Agency UNHCRI started traveling about seven years ago with film. I would go to places like Cambodia… I was very nervous to call the U.N. agency at the time… So first I went to Washington [to the UNHCR office] and I sat with everybody there and said… "If you could just help me, I'll pay my way." I spent the next year and a half going to, first, two camps in Africa, and then Pakistan and Cambodia… and had the opportunity to have this great education… I was transformed in such an amazing way.
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