The benefits of traveling abroad as a high school student are absolutely amazing—whether it’s stepping out of your comfort zone, experiencing new cultures or gaining confidence that will stick with you long after you return home. I remember my first time traveling abroad in high school on a big international trip; it was a month-long study abroad program to Israel, where we explored bustling Tel Aviv, slept under cloudless desert skies, showered (way) less frequently than you’d think, and completely changed our understanding of what lay beyond America. Since that high school program, I have been obsessed with—and grateful for—travel abroad. Because once you sample that first bite of falafel, taste another culture and see what the world has to offer, your center of gravity will shift. So I thought I’d share the top 5 benefits of high school study abroad experiences, as a self-identified travel junkie: 5 Benefits of Traveling Abroad in High School You’ll Be More Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable Classes Back Home Seem More Meaningful Your Taste Buds Will Thank You High School Travel Builds College Skills You’ll Push Yourself and Gain Confidence #1 You’ll Be More Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable Sometimes when you’re traveling, there are more important things than being super clean and having a Tempur-Pedic mattress to sleep on. For me, after I accepted that I was going to be a little stinky sometimes (err…usually) and a bit out of my comfort zone, I could focus on taking awesome pictures, eating incredible food and bonding with amazing people. Explore High School Travel Abroad Programs #2 Classes Back Home Seem More Meaningful When you’re learning Spanish grammar or ancient global history in a classroom, the material might inspire…snoozing. But when you study abroad and are able to apply those foreign language skills, high school classes can take on a whole new meaning. You’ll no longer just be studying difficult verb conjugations—you’ll be practicing for your next trip to the Dominican Republic, where your classroom skills will help be extremely valuable in communicating with locals, understanding the street art and ordering tasty food. #3 Your Taste Buds Will Thank You Even if you’re a plain pasta and butter kind of person back home (and we totally get it, pasta rocks), your taste buds will get a crash course abroad. It can start with just a bite or slurp of Vietnamese Pho Soup, the creamy, Northern Thai noodle dish Khao Soi, or chewy Chinese Soup Dumplings that explode flavor onto your tongue. It starts with a taste, but will end in a whole new palette of favorite flavors. Food is the avenue to better understanding a culture and its people. This is the time to get excited about learning through real world experience, your belly and mind will thank you. #4 High School Travel Builds College Skills Traveling abroad in high school can help twofold with college: 1) It signals to universities that you’re mature and open-minded during the application process. 2) It builds the types of skills that will help you thrive on campus. You’ll be stepping out of your comfort zone, learning independence and experiencing a different culture—all things one goes through freshman year. Better yet, traveling abroad in high school will likely put you on the path to joining study abroad programs in college. Just another way to set yourself apart when applying for graduate school in the future. #5 You’ll Push Yourself and Gain Confidence I am not, shall we say, a super athlete: I hike (slowly), I run (intermittently) and I consider ping pong to be my strongest sport. And yet, since that high school summer program and beyond, I learned that I could hike for several days and sleep in tents and do things I otherwise would have thought to be too difficult. Whether it’s making a new friend, contributing to a community service project or completing a challenging hike, these small moments of accomplishment abroad will consistently make you stronger. And once you’ve helped to build a house in Peru’s Sacred Valley, heading off to college seems like a piece of cake…or should I say pastel? Get Started on Your High School Adventure Abroad What Will You Gain from a Summer Program in a Foreign Country? Participating in a summer program abroad offers high school students an enriching experience that extends far beyond the classroom. As you travel abroad, immerse yourself in different cultures and navigate new surroundings, you’ll develop critical life skills and personal growth that can set the course for your future. Here are ten key learning outcomes you can expect from a summer program abroad that might just change your life completely: Openness to New Ideas and Experiences Traveling to a foreign country fosters an eagerness to learn from other cultures and perspectives. This openness, born from stepping into a new world, encourages high school students to integrate their experiences abroad into a lifelong journey of personal development and knowledge. Sense of Wonderment Experiencing the wonders of a different country ignites a deep sense of amazement and inspiration. From finding meaning in the small details of day-to-day life in your host country to being left speechless by the vastness of the world, this sense of wonder drives both passion and achievement.
A Belief That All People are Connected by a Shared Humanity Traveling abroad strengthens the understanding that all people, despite their differences, are connected by a shared humanity. This belief in our interconnectedness empowers students to see how individual actions can have a global impact and to recognize the common threads that unite diverse communities. A Desire to Positively Impact the Lives of Others A study abroad program often sparks a desire to use one’s talents to make a positive impact on both local and global communities. Students gain the understanding that even small actions, when combined, can lead to significant change, motivating them to contribute to a better world. Empathy Living and learning in a foreign place enhances the ability to empathize deeply with others. By stepping into unfamiliar situations and seeing the world through different eyes, students develop a profound ability to switch perspectives and foster empathy, which is crucial for meaningful change. Self-awareness Time abroad challenges students to reflect on their own values, motivations, and passions. This self-awareness helps them identify their strengths and areas for growth, ultimately leading to better communication and relationships with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Humility Traveling to a new culture teaches humility by providing a grounded understanding of one’s place in the world. High school students learn to respect others deeply, appreciate different talents, and provide service without expecting anything in return. Grit Overcoming the challenges of studying abroad requires grit—an inner determination to persevere despite setbacks. Students learn to push through difficulties and delay instant gratification in pursuit of long-term goals, which builds resilience and problem-solving skills. Independence Navigating a foreign country fosters independence by encouraging students to think and act for themselves. This independence allows them to explore new surroundings confidently, take responsibility for their decisions, and build the confidence needed to face future challenges. Intercultural Competence Studying abroad cultivates intercultural competence, enabling students to interact effectively with people from different cultures. This skill is essential for understanding issues from multiple perspectives and collaborating with diverse groups to make informed decisions. Ready to learn more about joining a summer program abroad as a high school student? Read our complete guide to summer programs abroad to learn everything you need to know about starting the adventure of your life!