Studying overseas has many benefits that help you grow professionally and personally. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that allows students to expand their horizons. In 2021, international students in the U.S. stood at around the 1 million mark, with one-third from China.
Recently, an article entitled “My Child, This Is Why We Sent You Abroad” went viral in China. Here is what the author, Jasmine Cheung, had to say.
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4 reasons for studying overseas
1. Making decisions with new possibilities
When a student decides to further their studies overseas, it is a positive step toward overcoming their comfort level while experiencing a new environment in a foreign country. Apart from enhancing their academic qualifications, students will be able to develop the necessary creative, innovative, and independent skill sets that are imperative for future development.
They will gain self-sufficiency and learn how to think on their feet when studying overseas. They will also learn how to hear the voices of others and hone their teamwork skills. They will become aware that they may not always be suitable as they are exposed to different ways of thinking in a group.
2. Developing independence and opportunities
Being alone in a foreign country makes a student independent and self-reliant in solving issues and making important decisions that will influence their future.
They establish relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. This creates an opportunity for students to learn, explore, and expand their horizons. It also provides an opportunity for international networking.
As a part of their study curriculum, students can decide to do an internship in a foreign company. This provides an opportunity for them to obtain a placement offer after their completion.
3. Adapting to new situations
Students will be thrown into unknown and potentially difficult situations in class, at a favorite lunch café, or even during a weekend getaway. While it’s exciting to experience these novel moments, they may be forced outside of their comfort zone and feel a more vital need to scrutinize the situation and better plan for new positions.
The planning, organizing, and overall workflow can be applied to their career. Having studied abroad, they are now more equipped to handle high-intensity demanding job roles, regardless of the field.
4. Communicating better
While studying overseas, during even the most direct interactions, they will learn to communicate in new ways daily. Depending on the host country’s language, they might resort to using a hybrid form of the English language, hand gestures, or a completely new language in their day-to-day interactions.
They will also learn to decipher facial expressions, body language, and gestures to successfully understand others and communicate their opinions, needs, and questions.
Whatever method they use to communicate while studying overseas, they will develop crucial cross-cultural communication skills that will undoubtedly help them in their future careers.
Jasmine Cheung concluded:
“In fact, the biggest gains are that they realize that they can survive in any country, and that they can pursue any future dream with newfound determination and skills. These two qualities alone will benefit them for the rest of their lives.”
Translated by Yi Ming
