For many students, studying abroad is one of the highlights of their college experience. Whether they have chosen to go abroad for academic reasons or to experience a new culture, they are sure to learn much more than they had ever hoped. Here at Gordon, there are so many different places to study abroad, and each program offers its own unique experiences.
Many students who have chosen to study abroad have said that their interest in going abroad started in high school, or even in middle school. I spoke with Jacob Dyer ‘27, a Business major, who studied in Thessaloniki, Greece, who says, “I knew I wanted to study abroad from when I was in high school. I just always wanted to do it.” The desire to go abroad is something that I think all students should follow if they are able to. If you are thinking about studying abroad, take the leap, and you will not regret it. Studying abroad is an experience from which you will learn about life just as much as you will learn from academics.
The most important part of studying abroad is finding a program that excites you. Even if the program does not focus specifically on your major, you will not regret the choice to go abroad. Mason Cummins ‘27 says, “ It was important for me to get out and see a new culture and learn how to live somewhere that was out of my comfort zone, because as a communications student, I’m going to be interacting with people with very different lifestyles from me.” It is so eye-opening to experience life in a different context and to say yes to an experience that is out of your comfort zone.
For many, studying abroad is a chance to learn how to be more independent and to prepare for life outside of college. Emily Zak ‘26 says, “ Just knowing that if I need to do this on my own, I can. It’s ok to still have support and help, but I think that what’s really helping me looking forward to graduation, is knowing that I’ve got this. I’ve done hard things before, and just having the experience of being abroad was so great.” To study abroad is to step into uncomfortability, and although it can be scary, you come out the other side of it feeling more confident in your ability to live life independently.
One of the hardest things I have found about returning from a study abroad experience is reconnecting with the people I didn’t see while I was away, and the life that I had missed. Naomi Love ‘27 says, “It feels like I grew as a person, but coming back to familiarity is kind of odd.” Although every abroad experience is different, there is a feeling of mourning for the people you met and the places that you got to explore.
Since being back on campus, I have felt like a stranger in places I once felt at home. To those who have studied abroad and are also feeling this uncertainty, I want to say that this feeling won’t last forever. It may be a slow process, but you will find new rhythms and new ways to bring your experience abroad here to your life on campus. Don’t be afraid to reach out if you need support in transitioning back to campus life. The Global Education Office prepares students in many ways for their return after being abroad. They provide spaces like the Re-Entry Room to talk with other students who have been abroad and are feeling all the uncertainty of being back.
If you are returning from studying abroad, know that you were open to so many new experiences and friendships, and you have a chance to bring the things you have learned back with you. Go experience new things and create friendships that will last. Be intentional about the way you spend your time, slow down, and know that the uncertainty that you may be feeling will not last. You have a place here on campus just as much as you did while you were abroad.
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