There has always been an abundance of talk about traveling abroad. Whether it is for the experience, the fun or the learning a new language, it has become critical in this day and age.
However, many people believe that traveling abroad in high school or college is either not possible for them or just not worth it. They are wrong.
There have always been ways to study in a different country and learn another language, the problem is that many people are not aware this.
Many do not think that it is necessary or even relevant. Many Americans just ask the question, “Why do we have to learn another language, why can’t the rest of the world just learn English?”
This is a problem, especially for the United States, as the world becomes more globalized and people interact with each other more. It is not practical for everyone to learn English, so we do have to learn another language. There has to be a balance between cultures and an attempt to communicate with foreign countries.
Recently a number of high profile Americans have made it clear that in order for the United States to continue to be world leaders, we must expand our view and our ability to communicate, not only in English but in languages like Chinese, Arabic, Russian, German and Spanish.
“…study[ing] abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences in a young person’s life. International students enrich classrooms and communities with their ideas, perspectives and culture. And when they return home, they bring new knowledge, new perspectives and a deeper understanding of the world,” said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on International Exchange Students Day.
Veteran traveler and author Rick Steves also agrees with idea of international education.
“Even in challenging economic times, making sure that study abroad is part of our college students’ education is a vital investment. If we want a new generation of leaders and innovators who can be effective in an ever more globalized world, sending our students overseas is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.”
Americans have seen what the rest of the world is doing and want to catch up. Countries like China, Germany, Japan, Brazil, Russia, Saudi Arabia  and India are teaching their students languages from young ages so that by the time they are in their teens, they are fluent. Americans are far behind the teens who are bilingual at the age of 16.
These students are able to read, write and translate in languages that they took in school, starting at young ages instead of in high school. Because of this, they are much more willing to travel abroad to sharpen their skills, and many have a healthy sense of independence.
This is certainly not the case in the United States, where students remain reliant on their parents until their teens and have trouble being away from home for long times. This is a major disadvantage in the ever-changing world.
The best option for motivated students is to make every effort to study abroad and learn everything they can about other cultures. This can be possible through the large number of programs and organizations that currently exist.
For high school students who want a challenge and would like to go for free, there are a number of scholarships that are available. These include the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX), the Kennedy-Lugar Exchange and Study Programs (YES) and the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI – Y).
These programs are administered through different organizations with funding from the Department of State. Programs like CBYX include trips to Washington, D.C., and Berlin where one will meet with members of Congress and the German Bundestag as youth ambassadors.
For those of who do not think they could win a scholarship or are turned down, there are always regular exchanges with programs like the American Field Service (AFS) or Rotary. Although they lack some of the benefits, they still give you everything needed for a successful exchange year.
Students may have issues with school, learning the language on the fly and with host families, though.
There will also be problems with making friends and simply trying to fit in; however, studying abroad is an experience that will help one learn and give one more experience for the future. There will also be a lot of homesickness; many students have gone home before their year was over, even the scholarship students.
Despite these hardships, it is an experience that will, one way or another, be life-changing. Many students will come back with a new sense of independence and responsibility along with their newfound language skills.
It will give them an advantage over others because they will have experiences that some people could never have the stomach to do. No matter what you do with your life, if you study abroad, it will always stay with you and be remembered as great time.

*Note: Nicholas Fisfis is currently spending his junior year of high school abroad as a CBYX scholar in Germany after hosting his own foreign exchange student last year. He will be returning for his senior year at Penn-Trafford. Fisfis welcomes any questions you may have for him. He can be contacted at nicholasfisfis@comcast.net.