Mentor Advice
Question
Why is study abroad important for students from diverse backgrounds?
16 Replies from Mentors
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Additional MentorVarious students and administratorsinterviewed by the Center for Global Education
Giana, student, studied in Ghana
This student discusses her experience of exploring her origins and heritage through study abroad -
Tony LaingPh.D. Candidate at Education Policy Studies and AFRO StudiesUniversity of Illinois – Urbana, ChampaignThis may sound corny, but study abroad opens doors. Many potential employers have repeatedly mentioned that I was invited to interview for a variety of reasons, my study abroad experience being one reason cited. I also think that studying abroad is not just for the privileged few, but should be an option for all students from various socio-economic statuses and affinity groups.
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Condoleezza RiceFormer Secretary of StateUnited StatesThe transformative capability of American higher education has been very clear to me in my work as a professor because I witnessed the life changing potential of international exchange among my American students who studied abroad and among the diverse foreign students who studied at Stanford from every region of the world who regularly enriched my classrooms in ways that only they could do.
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NancySenior Year StudentLoyola Marymount UniversityFrom a Latin@ perspective, I feel it is very important for students from diverse backgrounds to go and see what’s out there. For those of us who are the first generation in the US we may feel that our parents came to this country for a good reason; to an extent we feel obligated to stay here because they came here to provide us with a better life. But in reality, there’s so much more to the world than the US. It gives us a larger perspective as to the different cultures and people that live on this planet. Usually in the states we’re looked at as the foreigners-people are trying to figure out our culture. Its interesting when dynamics change and you’re the one trying to figure out the other culture because you don’t understand it. Being an ‘other’ here in the US has definitely made me more open and willing to immerse myself in a completely different culture. My mindset wasn’t like ‘I’m an American, I’m better’ but ‘let me try to live like you’.
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NancySenior Year StudentLoyola Marymount University
Watch this student discuss her parent’s thoughts on her studying abroad. -
Anthony YuenOutreach, Communications & MarketingSummer Sessions, Study Abroad & Lifelong LearningStudy abroad is increasingly being seen as an essential part of the college experience, and just like higher education, it's important that all students have access and the ability to study abroad regardless of their background. It's also equally important that the students who study abroad are reflective of the diversity of the United States. As an educator, it's my responsibility to ensure that study abroad becomes an opportunity for all students, especially those who have traditionally not been represented in the field.
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