“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” Centuries before 20-year-old junior Shirlette Chambers was born St. Augustine made this observation about travel.
Yet Chambers, who spent this past summer in Alicante, Spain, couldn’t agree more. And she adds: “College is the best time to travel, there are more opportunities.”Flyers promoting international exchange and study abroad programs are tacked to bulletin boards in practically every classroom building on the campus of Winston-Salem State University.
Olasope Oyelaran, director of the International Program Office at WSSU, is hoping that increasing numbers of students will take advantage of study abroad programs. By next fall, he said the program hopes to encourage at least 2 percent of the student body to participate in its International Exchange or Study Abroad Program.”When you go abroad, it’s like holding a mirror to yourself and seeing potential that you didn’t see before,” Oyelaran said.
Chambers, for example, spent two weeks traveling across Europe to Rome, Venice, Switzerland, Denmark, London and Germany. “It’s safer to travel around in another country than to travel around America,” she said.
According to Black Issues in Higher Education, 83 percent of Americans believe international education programs enrich campus life. And Transitions Aboard magazine reported that these are the Top 10 reasons to study abroad:
1. Expand employment opportunities. Employers are seeking graduates who can think critically and also have a global perspective.
2. Increase your understanding of the world and our society.
3. Broaden your experience. Travel outside the U.S. is an education in itself.
4. Meet people from different backgrounds and cultures.
5. Increase your income potential. Study abroad on your resume definitely gives you a competitive edge. Black Enterprise recently highlighted the importance of the African-American presence in the global marketplace.
6. Explore new interests.
7. Learn specific skills that are career related. Learn a second language or do an international internship.
8. Gain new insights and outlooks while enjoying new relationships. By living in the country, you get an insider’s perspective on the social and political structure of your host country.
9. Take control of your future. You can fully be part of an ethically diverse workforce.
10. Find out what you want to do in life. Many students report that study abroad can be a life-changing experience that can also open many new career choices.