Studying overseas does not just mean moving away from home to go to school elsewhere. It is an experience, overseas education can help broaden your mindset and add value to your life.
It is the beginning of a series of changes that you are likely to experience as you move to study abroad.
While things may seem uncertain in the beginning, don’t worry, because it only gets easier. In no time, you will find yourself surrounded by diverse people who think differently, speak different languages, and have unique skills. It is the beginning of self-discovery.
Over time, you will likely begin to find that your mindset has broadened far beyond what it once was. Suddenly, you are not limited by the beliefs that you grew up with or the thought processes you had before.
This is just the beginning, the proverbial tip of the iceberg.
1. Coming out of your comfort zone
Indeed, traveling to a foreign country does not just mean getting out of your country. Instead, it starts with you coming out of your comfort zone.
There are plenty of things that go into preparing yourself to study abroad, and these all eventually contribute to you becoming a more well-rounded, capable adult in the long term.
Getting ready to move away, knowing that you will be leaving your friends and family behind for some time, while they cheer you on from afar – this itself can be a challenge.
Nothing worth having comes easy.
– Theodore Roosevelt
Sure, it may seem uncertain and you may have plenty of doubts in your mind, but remember, you are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.
The experience will show you new things, expose you to a new way of thinking, and reveal to you beauty that you could never have imagined.
At the same time, there are plenty of new responsibilities and things to take care of. All of these things are about to contribute to you becoming a much more comprehensive and mature person in life.
2. Living in a multicultural society
When you move abroad to study, especially in countries like the USA, Australia, Canada, Europe, and New Zealand, you will find students of different backgrounds, cultures, and races from different parts of the world.
Meeting individuals from different cultures and interacting with people from different origins is an excellent way to broaden your mindset. You will experience firsthand what makes other cultures great, and learn things from them that you would have never otherwise known about.
New languages, speech patterns, expressions, delicious food, and more are just some of the things you will get to enjoy when you study abroad that will greatly benefit you in developing a broader understanding of the world we live in.
3. Getting used to living Independently
At home, it is easy to get used to having things done for you. Once you have moved out, it can be difficult at first to adjust to doing everything by yourself. This means managing your grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, household chores, and more before you even have a chance to sit down to study.
Now while this may seem like a bad thing, the opposite is true in the long term.
The level of responsibility and independence you will experience is just what you need to develop the life skills that contribute to a well-rounded life. Finally, you can take control of your life completely, and the feeling it gives you can be exhilarating.
4. Experimenting and trying new things
While it may be slightly more challenging to find the same food and kind of people that you are used to, that is not the point of studying overseas.
Instead, you’d want to immerse yourself in the new and unfamiliar. This is the single most effective way to experience new things and broaden your horizons.
Trying out new kinds of food from diverse cuisines, speaking to people from lesser-known cultures, and getting to know what life is like for them will give you a much deeper perspective on life.
You will find that many of the things we take for granted are in fact blessings that others might not be used to. All of these experiences will help you grow as a person and gain a greater appreciation for life and where you come from. You could soon find yourself in the company of greats who excelled in life after studying abroad.
5. Adapting to change
Getting used to a new way of life is a big part of studying abroad. At first, moving to another country can be extremely difficult and intimidating. Students often have second thoughts just before leaving – about whether or not they want to go through with it. This is for good reason.
There is a good chance that it will be a while until you see your family and friends again, do the same things you are used to, and stay in your own house. Instead, you are likely to be looking for shared housing, trying to work out your daily routine, finding the bus route to your university, and much more.
Since you are about to experience a whole new lifestyle, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of changes that you will go through within the first few weeks.
Rest assured, you can get through it, just like everyone else eventually does. Once you get used to a new way of life, you can start to enjoy living it the way you want to.
Especially in the start, it helps to build a strong group of friends that you can speak to whenever you feel low or unmotivated.
Conclusion
Studying abroad is one of the most exciting and challenging things young students can do in their lifetimes. Filled with new experiences, challenges, and triumphs, many students come out of the experience unrecognizable from when they first arrived.
Traveling to a new country, trying out new food, and studying under a different education system are just some of the things that you are about to go through.
With that said, the best way to help you along your journey is to find a group of like-minded students who are going through the same thing that you are. Helping each other cope and thrive through challenges is a powerful way for you to build a strong support group in your new home away from home.
No matter which country you choose to study in, you are sure to jump straight into a new world that would allow you to grow as a person, develop your personality, and broaden your mindset.
Our sincere advice would be to embrace the change, be excited to learn new things, and most of all, enjoy yourself along the way!
FAQs
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the overseas education system?
The biggest advantages and disadvantages of overseas education are that helps you understand a new culture and allows you to enhance your learning.
The sheer amount, of course, opportunities can help you build a global career. A huge disadvantage can be the financial aspect of studying abroad and feeling homesick.
Why foreign education is better than in India?
Foreign education can be better than Indian education in some areas. Especially in terms of STEM, where countries like the USA, UK, Germany, or Canada can offer students a better and more nuanced infrastructure for experimentation and discovery.
Foreign education is also a gateway to living abroad for many students; it helps families move to different countries for settlement and permanent residency.
What are the benefits of going abroad after the 12th?
The greatest benefit of going abroad after the 12th is the chance to be independent and self-sufficient. Studying abroad means managing your own life, experiencing a new culture, and learning important lessons like budgeting, time management, and money management.
It helps you grow as a person and take adulting to new heights.