As students at Appalachian State University, we have the privilege of living on one of the most beautiful campuses. Although we get our education in such a scenic place, we do not have to be confined to only learning within Boone.
With the help of the International Education and Development program here at ASU, students can go on a number of short-term or long-term study abroad adventures throughout their university careers.
The short-term faculty-led programs allows students to enroll in fall, spring and summer adventures that last anywhere from one week to one month.
Nina-Jo Moore, a professor of communication at Appalachian State, has been taking students on short-term faculty-led study abroad trips since 1999.
“[These trips] open student’s eyes to see that there is a lot more out there than they can experience here on our campus,” Moore said. “The experience should also help them learn to be more tolerant of others’ differences, and also to let them see how many similarities we have with people in other cultures.”
Students can also choose to go on full summer, semester or yearlong study abroad experiences. There are 200 foreign sites for students to consider studying at.
There are a number of reasons why every student should consider studying abroad at least once in their time here at Appalachian.
One is students can earn credit hours towards their degree program. On the short-term faculty-led trips, a student can usually earn up to six credit hours on one trip. Even if you go with a different department, there is a possibility to earn credit for any elective credits needed.
On these trips, students learn valuable knowledge about their own field of study and the cultures they are traveling within. This wisdom can benefit students in life back on campus and in future careers.
A student who traveled to Poland with Moore got an internship with David Letterman because she put the experience on her resume. Having experiences like this on a resume can differentiate a potential candidate for a job from hundreds of other competitors.
Also, do not worry if these trips sound expensive. Financial aid and scholarships are available to any student who wants to travel.
It is important in this time of learning and growing that we get out and experience other places and new ways of life.
Moore offers three important pieces of advice to students who want to travel, and those are: “learn to be flexible, realize that the “American Way” is not the only way to do things,” and “learn to enjoy whatever the trip brings you.”
Merrill, a sophomore journalism major from Chapel Hill, is an opinion writer.