Why You Should Study Abroad

Jaeden Klassen (’24) draws upon their experiences to detail some of the benefits of doing a study abroad. “It allows you to truly immerse yourself in lifestyles that are so different from your own–or more similar than you might think.”

Have you ever felt like you’re stuck living under a rock, yearning to learn more about other cultures but not knowing how? I found that studying abroad is a great way to expand your worldview. It allows you to truly immerse yourself in lifestyles that are so different from your own–or more similar than you might think.

Below are five benefits of studying abroad that were incredibly influential to me this summer. I lived in Japan for 28 days to study Japanese. This experience was life-changing for me, and was definitely one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

1. Meet Amazing New People

“Studying abroad” may seem like just doing school in another country, but it is so much more than that. My favorite part of the trip was – as cliche as this sounds – the friends I made there. I was lucky enough to find a group of absolutely amazing people whom I connected with pretty quickly, and I still talk to them to this day. In fact, I recently drove six hours to Kentucky and back to visit one of my friends that I met in Japan, and it was so much fun. If you ever get the chance to study abroad, I highly recommend trying to make friends; I promise it’ll be the most memorable part of your whole trip. (Trust me: all I ever talk about is how much fun I had with my friends there.)

2. Broaden Your Cultural Perspectives

Living in a different country for a month, one that doesn’t speak English nor conform to Western ideals, was quite the culture-shock for me. I lived with a host family for two of the weeks that I was in Japan, and they helped me to better understand and embrace their culture. I learned what to do and what to avoid, learned how to navigate around a foreign country, and even learned how to cook a signature Japanese dish: オムアイス (omurice). Try not to stay in hotels when studying abroad; host families will allow you to meet new people and learn more about the culture through direct cultural immersion.

3. Experience New Teaching Styles

The schooling I experienced in Japan, though not the traditional Japanese high school, was so enlightening for me. We were all put into a school specifically aimed toward people who want to learn Japanese as English speakers. What was most beneficial for me was how interactive the classes were, as they incorporated all of the different learning styles: visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinaesthetic (physical activities). This was especially great for me, because I feel like most teachers in America focus on reading/writing and auditory teaching, which isn’t always what works best for me. We also had a different teacher every day – they rotated between all the classrooms – and were allotted specific times during our three hour classes where we could run down to the コンビニ (convenience store) and buy snacks to help us get through the remainder of class.

4. Learn New Languages

Studying abroad is an excellent way to learn a new language. Being immersed in your target language is incredibly beneficial, but you won’t learn by just using Google Translate to get by – it’s important to really make an effort to speak the language to the best of your ability, attempt to strengthen your reading and writing skills, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. I can’t even count how many times I mixed up a word or misunderstood what someone told me in Japanese, but it made for a funny story with my host family and friends. It’s also so imperative to maintain your language skills as best as possible after studying abroad: I can already tell that I’ve lost a little bit of what I’ve learned since being back, so do what you can to retain your knowledge! Duolingo and other language learning apps are a good starting point.

5. Strengthen Your Independence

I was nervous about traveling by myself to a foreign country that doesn’t speak English, but it really forced me to be independent. Personally, I have a terrible sense of direction, and I had to commute over an hour alone from school to my host family’s house every day. As you can imagine, I was forced to figure things out pretty quickly. I got lost quite a few times – but I always found my way home in the end. It helped that the Japanese train system is very efficient and relatively easy to navigate, but even just asking a stranger for directions was so helpful. I know it can be scary, especially if you don’t know the language, but I promise it will get easier with practice. By the end of my stay in Japan, I was able to find my way around Japan’s train stations with ease, and I never feared getting lost because I knew I could rely on myself (plus, Japan is a pretty safe country, and the people there are almost always willing to help).

Study Abroad Organizations

Below are some organizations that you can use to find good study abroad programs to look into. There are so many more than what I have listed, so find which program sounds best for you!

CIEE – This is the study abroad organization that I went through

Global Leadership Adventures – Study abroad and travel internships for teens aged 14-18

NOLS – Travel opportunities for both teens and adults

AIFS – Study abroad during the summer

AIFS College – Study abroad during college

CEA CAPA – Study abroad and internship opportunities

Tired of Classical Music? Try Bossa Nova

Diego Hurtado-Cardenas (’26) advocates for expanding your musical horizons by listening to Bossa Nova. “…from the gentle sound of the guitar, to the violins and trumpets, the Portuguese language with that Brazilian accent that sounds so soft yet so powerful, Bossa Nova is full of life.”

What music do you listen to when you study? Most people would say one of two things. “The music I normally listen to” and “Classical music,” which makes sense. Classical Music, being good for studying and babies is the biggest cliche ever, it’s the go to music for all the moms that want a smart baby. Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Wagner, etc. We’ve all heard the all-time favorite sounds and tones. Now let’s be clear, there’s nothing wrong with listening to Classical music when you study, but there are other alternatives that are just as good but sound more refreshing to most people, because we aren’t familiar to them. Like Bossa Nova.

First of all, Bossa Nova is not a guy. It’s a relaxed style of Samba similar to Jazz that started in Brazil during the late 50’s, and it’s associated with movements of social protest in the region. It has a very distinctive rhythm, it’s full of energy and is repetitive in a way that makes it calming. And although energetic, it’s actually quite relaxing and very comforting.

Bossa Nova is the word given to this style of music, which means “New Trend” in English. It’s widely known as the “elevator music” thanks to the song “Girl From Ipanema” by Astrud Gilberto. “Tall and tan and young and lovely, the girl from Ipanema goes walking,” yes, that song. But there’s so much more to the genre, from the gentle sound of the guitar, to the violins and trumpets, the Portuguese language with that Brazilian accent that sounds so soft yet so powerful, Bossa Nova is full of life.

Now, why should you listen to Bossa Nova and use it as “study music?” Well, Bossa `1 Nova is one of the most relaxing music you’ll ever hear. It’s very soft and the music blends into your thoughts as background music, it’s so easy to listen to. And being honest, you don’t even need to know how to speak Portuguese. I don’t speak Portuguese and I listen to it all the time, it’s all about the melody and beautiful instruments, the voice is just an extra.

“Okay Diego, I’m convinced. But… How do I start listening to Bossa Nova?” Well, here’s what I did. I had heard about it at some point in my life, and I thought I should give it a try. So, I opened Apple Music and searched for “Bossa Nova” and played the first playlist I found. Then, I made my own playlist with the songs I had liked from that playlist. But if that seems like too much work for you, which is fair, these are some classic songs I love: “Samba de Verao”, “Agua de beber”, “O Barquinho”, “Wave”, and “Meditation.” And here are some great albums: “Getz/Gilberto” by Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto, “The Composer of Desafinado, Plays” by Antonio Carlos Jobim, and “Sinatra/Jobim: The complete Reprise Recordings” by Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim. I know some names and words are hard to spell, but all you have to remember is that any song will sound good if you search for “Bossa Nova.”

The Connection Between Storytelling and Memory

Cecelia Brush (’24) connects a personal experience to research on the power of storytelling. “When the emotions we feel while telling the story match those we felt during the moment it happened, our memories are jogged in a unique way that takes us back to the moment, able to recall significant details.”

When I sat down for dinner with my almost 90-year-old grandparents recently, I was expecting a regular conversation with them—one about my hobbies and schooling, my grandma asking what grade I was in again; my grandpa losing focus and saying the same thing twice. They’ve always been healthy, active people, and this physical health seemed to carry over to their minds for a long time. But recently, they are more distant, seem less like themselves. It’s almost as if their minds are too tired to keep up with the conversation at hand, which makes perfect sense. If my mind had been working hard for 90 years I would be exhausted.

However, something was different about this last particular dinner with my grandparents. Originally, they were a bit more reserved and seemed unengaged. Small talk did not seem to stimulate their minds, so I decided to ask some deeper questions. I knew that they had been married for 65 years, but I’ve only been alive for 17 of those, so I decided to go back to the beginning. “What was your wedding like?”

Immediately their responses became so much more meaningful as my grandma remembered her wedding dress and my grandpa recounted the guests that made appearances. Their responses took the shape of a story—like it was happening right there at the table. They were transported back to that day. Suddenly, they could impressively recount the most specific memories, like the color of the napkins—but later they would forget how to drive home. I was fascinated by how their energy shifted when telling a story, like they had reached a part of themselves they hadn’t seen in a long time.

Perhaps, I thought, recalling a story can actually help someone reach long-lost memories. Turns out, there is a strong link between memory and storytelling. When we tell stories, like the one my grandparents told about their wedding, we conjure up emotions from the memories in order to make the story interesting and vivid for those listening. When the emotions we feel while telling the story match those we felt during the moment it happened, our memories are jogged in a unique way that takes us back to the moment, able to recall significant details. Emotion is what allows stories to live on, even 65 after the moment is over. Stories bridge the gap between our distant memories and the present moment, even after a certain amount of time.

Stories can open our minds to memories that we couldn’t conjure up without an emotional narrative. Knowing this can make our conversations more meaningful and writing more impactful. If you really want to get to know someone, ask them to tell you a story. If you are having writer’s block, try telling a story out loud. You may find that memories flow like water when you do.

A Reflection on “Last Moments”: Finding Enjoyment in Everyday Life

Senior Joshua Lee (’24) reflects on appreciating last moments and how a future orientation can cause us to miss the joys of everyday. “The promise of a reinvented self–immune to current faults, problems, and worries–makes the future an incredibly beckoning thought. However, a life geared toward it becomes an unquenchable thirst, never to be satisfied.”

With Trimester 1 finals approaching around the corner, I found myself dreading the moment I would have to begrudgingly pour over past notes and flashcards. The terms “exam” and “enjoyable” seldom belong in the same sentence: sleepless nights, frantic cramming sessions, and the pervading stress are all unwelcome symptoms. However, as a senior, the thought that this Trimester 1 final would be the last one of my entire life prompted a contemplative dilemma of sorts.

Was this supposed to be a celebratory moment, marking one step closer to graduation? Was this supposed to be a reflective moment for finishing another piece of high school I could never repeat? Was this supposed to be a memorable moment I would view in a melancholic light as an adult?

There is a sentimental value that is firmly rooted within “last moments”. It makes individuals more attentive and appreciative of the mundane details that had been previously overlooked. While Trimester 1 finals might be a more prominent occurrence, many other events swiftly pass unnoticed for the last time. For instance, would I have held a different attitude toward the day I had placed down my final LEGO piece if I had been aware that I would never play with them again, or given my middle school a second glance if I had known it would be the last day of in-person school before the pandemic?

More often than not, we all tend to become fixated on the future, longing for the latest accessory, a higher education, or another promotion. The promise of a reinvented self–immune to current faults, problems, and worries–makes the future an incredibly beckoning thought. However, a life geared toward it becomes an unquenchable thirst, never to be satisfied. It can be easy to fall into an endless cycle of longing for the weekend, summer break, or graduation, resulting in each day blending into a monotonous blur.

There is no denying that some days might seem to be more transformative and influential than others. However, if we slowed down and treated each day as a “last moment”, we might finally begin to notice everything that had once been overlooked. While the end of finals and the start of Thanksgiving Break are nice to look forward to, there might also be some enjoyable experiences hidden amidst the looming pressure of this upcoming finals week.

The Power of Living Freely

Lilly Hescheles (’24) tells the story of how she learned to trust herself and take risks. “My experience on this trip acted as one of the first times I took a chance that was scary — it was the beginning of putting myself into uncomfortable situations in order to live a true life.”

Fear arrives in many forms. It follows us down every path, and often changes our destination. It haunts the mind of every human being; hiding amongst repaired souls, only to puncture every bone again.

I spent my early years inside a person who was afraid. I offered small words to radiant conversations while giving my attention to monotonous tasks. I was terrified of being myself; I was terrified of feeling rejected by the world. Fortunately, somewhere along the way, I learned that it’s impossible to hide a true soul from the eyes of others.

At the age of fifteen, I began taking risks. With the knowledge that I could indefinitely fail, I began existing for myself rather than others. The inception of this phase of my life began with a backpacking trip through the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. My experience on this trip acted as one of the first times I took a chance that was scary — it was the beginning of putting myself into uncomfortable situations in order to live a true life. As my world was opened to rawness and genuinity, I understood myself more. In turn, I learned to breathe rather than exist.

Today I walk the halls of my high school with the understanding that I’ve made many mistakes in the last few years of my life. Throughout my days, I’ve chosen the wrong priority, picked forgery friends, and entered unpleasant situations. Still, I’m thankful. I’m thankful for the lessons I’ve learned; I’m appreciative of the truths that have been unlocked to me.

According to the psychological website Learning Mind, living in fear isn’t a physical circumstance but rather a state of mind that’s destructive to the happiness of being. Additionally, Learning Mind explains that many people aren’t aware they’re living in fear until their health prospers as an effect of it. In my own experience, I didn’t realize how unlively my life was until I began existing freely. I hadn’t been aware of all the things I could do if I just decided to be myself.

My 10 Tips for Success

Put yourself into as many uncomfortable situations as possible.
Trust yourself.
Focus on the positive.
Know that it’s impossible for everything to be perfect.
Do the things you want to do.
Adopt a growth mindset.
Focus on the now.
Care about your opinion of yourself more than any other.
Learn to be okay with change.
Rejection isn’t a bad thing.

Don’t let fear define your life. Rather, allow yourself to live freely — you’ll be amazed at what you find.