Top 10 Reasons I Am Going Abroad
1. Learn a language in a country where it is spoken. I already know I want to study languages in college. That's a definite. I think that becoming close to fluent in Japanese would not only provide me with a sense of accomplishment, but also make it apparent to others that I'm serious about the non-Indo-European languages thing.
2. See the world (or at least part of it), I just took an hour-long bike-ride and all I saw was corn. It's time to see something interesting, something fresh, something radically different. I need new stimuli. There comes a point in every teenager's life when they have gotten everything out of their school and their hometown that they have to offer. I think I might be there. In the words of Death Cab for Cutie: "If you're feeling like a tourist/In the city you were born in/Then it's time to go."
3. Make connections that last a lifetime. I've been raised to believe that people are resources. They know things you don't. They have seen and experienced things you haven't. They know people you may never be introduced to. If you make a connection with someone, you never know when the skills they possess will come in handy. Or, they might just be a really hilarious friend.
4. Learn about yourself and gain independence. There are some questions I've been asking myself recently, and I think I need to distance myself from home in order to understand them, let alone answer them.
5. International Travel is fun and exciting! I'm not very well traveled, to be honest. I mean, I've roadtripped to every state on the east coast, and I've visited/buried family in Puerto Rico, but beyond that, I haven't really done much [traveling]. So when a chance to live in Japan - I'm sorry, I meant LIVE IN JAPAN - is thrown at me, I'm more than eager to take it.
6. Experience hands-on learning. I was fine with this idea, until I remembered that I will be sitting in a classroom with 20 other Japanese kids listening to someone speak a language I barely know. But hey. By Month 2, I should be doing alright.
7. Gain perspective on your own country and culture. Everyone knows what Europe thinks of us. Lazy and fat and loud. Don't tell me I'm wrong; a French exchange student to my high school was pleasantly surprised to find we did not brown-bag McDonald's everyday.
8. Travel/Study-abroad is a life changing experience. Oh, it'll be life-changing alright. This won't be easy. That phrase "it takes a village to raise a child"? It's true in Chestertown. Everyone here is family. And I'm going to miss every single one of them.
9. Resume builder. I'll be up front with you. I'm an average student. A's and B's, and one C, because I had a meltdown sophomore year. [A literal one, mind you]. On paper, I'm not all that different from decent students all across America. However, I will be the first student from my high school to study abroad in a VERY long time. (Actually, I might be the first, but I don't want to give myself that much credit). And since I'm applying to places like Middlebury and Georgetown U, I need all the help I can get. I think Japan might be my ticket in.
10. Programs work with all academic programs. Ha! My adviser already told me I will not be doing this for credit: A). Since I have finished all my other credits, and B). because seriously. Me. Taking a math class that's taught in Japanese. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. My parents said "Hey. Just do your best. We're not telling you that you have to get A's because that most likely will not happen."
^Just in case you were confused as to why I applied. (~_~;)
