“When you study abroad, You’re helping to make America stronger” –Michelle Obama
Though these types of positive messages tend to be overlooked by the media and, thus, unheard by the vast majority of the population, you will be happy to know that the first lady has been very active over the last few years in trying to promote international exchange and study abroad. A few years ago, the First Lady gave a presentation on the importance of study abroad to a packed house of American and Chinese students at the Stanford Center, Peking University in China.
Though many see study abroad as a form of extended vacation where more time is spent partying than actually studying, the truth is that, just as with anything else in life, study abroad is what you make it. When done right, it can be an invaluable tool for broadening your education and an increasingly strong asset to your resume. Those who go abroad with an open mind will return home with a broadened worldview. Having this expanded perspective has been shown to help tackle many everyday challenges in both the workplace and at home, improves your ability to work efficiently with others from widely different cultural backgrounds, and helps in leadership roles.
“There is nothing more important …than to expose our kids to the world.”
In todays globalized marketplace, having international experience, and being able to articulate the skills gained through an international education experience during interviews, gives you much more advantage over the otherwise equally qualified candidates who have never gone abroad.
“The fact is, with every friendship you make, and every bond of trust you establish, you are shaping the image of America projected to the rest of the world. That is so important. So when you study abroad, you’re actually helping to make America stronger.”
In a separate segment, a few students had the chance to pose questions to the first lady about study abroad. The following gives a glimpse of how much the first family values incorporating study abroad into the college experience-
What advice would you give to young American students going abroad for the first time?
MICHELLE: Number one, be open. Try to enter the experience with no preconceived notions about the country you`re going to or the people in that country. You`ve got to try to shake the fear. You know, you can`t approach this opportunities thinking that everything is going to feel good and comfortable and you`ll get everything right. You probably are going to make a lot of mistakes, but you know what, that`s life.
In other parts of the world that you go to, they will appreciate your effort, your energy as long as you come into the experience respecting the people and the culture that you`re coming into.
Where did you receive your first passport stamp and how that experience impact the person that you are today?
MICHELLE: Our sophomore class had an opportunity to spend a week for break in France, and initially, I was nervous about taking that week. I didn`t want to ask my father to pay for that trip. It felt like an extravagance. And I remember breaking down in tears feeling guilty about even asking him if I could go. He wanted me to have all the experiences that he didn`t` have. And he didn`t blink an eye in paying for that trip.
So, I got on a plane with some of my classmates and we stayed in a youth hostel and spoke a lot of bad French and learned a lot.
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