I like watching the news just as much as the next guy. But if we all really thought about it, most of what we see on the news is pretty depressing. And you know what? I don’t blame the news stations. Negative stories gain more attention because we as consumers seem to be more interested in them – myself included.
It’s not to say that what you’ve learned from textbooks or the nightly news isn’t true, but studying abroad, gives you the opportunity to discover your own news, and develop your own opinions based on things you’ve actually seen, experiences in places you’ve actually been, and the thoughts of people you’ve actually met.
The greater the perspective you have on life, the more educated your opinions and decisions become. When living abroad for more than a few weeks, you’re introduced to new perspectives on current affairs and global issues, you come to appreciate the importance of difference, and you develop the ability to make better, more well-informed decisions on your own.