Hello, prospective study abroad students! This past spring I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Kyoto, Japan, through the CIEE Kyoto Open Campus program. I know it is a cliche, but the experience genuinely was life changing. It is so hard to put into words just how impactful the experience was and why it was so impactful. Writing this letter, I am filled with so many memories and so thankful for having taken the leap. I cannot encourage future students to study abroad strongly enough.
"I encourage future students to truly embrace the discomfort – it is on the other side of this discomfort that you really grow. In other words, go beyond just being a tourist and take advantage of all the amazing opportunities that present themselves if you’re willing to seek them out."
Since I first heard about study abroad sometime in elementary school, I have known I wanted to study abroad in whatever form that took. Yet, despite this firm knowledge of my desire to study abroad, going into the experience I had many fears – missing out on opportunities at Iowa; leaving my friends behind to spend 12 weeks with complete strangers (none from Iowa); knowing nothing about the country, culture, or language,; and so many more. However, I can confidently say that by pushing beyond these fears, I not only enjoyed the opportunity, but I grew as a person in a way I don’t think possible were it not for studying abroad.
In going to Japan, I saw the world from an entirely new point of view. For the first time in my life, I was truly an outlier. But by pushing through this initial discomfort, I came to appreciate foreign culture, better understand who I am and what I value, and realized that even in a place about as culturally different from the United States as possible, there are so many more similarities in people than differences.
I encourage future students to truly embrace the discomfort – it is on the other side of this discomfort that you really grow. In other words, go beyond just being a tourist and take advantage of all the amazing opportunities that present themselves if you’re willing to seek them out. Going into the experience, I had little in the way of expectations. I wanted to experience as much of Japan as I could and push myself as far beyond my comfort zone as I could. In both of these I succeeded. Of course, I enjoyed the incredible shrines, temples, and castles; ate the somewhat questionable local cuisine; and toured the major cities; but, I also sang karaoke with local university students, made sushi with second-graders, did stand-up comedy with a famous Japanese comedian, played soccer with a local club, and so many more spontaneous highlights that came with being more than just a tourist. By participating in the local culture instead of simply observing it, I came to both better understand and enjoy it.
Not only did studying abroad provide so many incredible memories and allow me to really push myself, but it also helped me redefine and better understand my personal and career aspirations. With a strong interest in international affairs, studying abroad allowed me to better understand global dynamics from a different perspective and my interest in the field. Furthermore, by living abroad and traveling throughout Japan, I reinforced my love for travel and new experiences and my tolerance for living somewhere foreign.
The simple truth is, for the reasons outlined and so many more, the 12 weeks I spent in Japan were the greatest 12 weeks of my life. The memories will last forever. The impact is incomparable. And I cannot express strongly enough my gratitude for having studied abroad. If anyone has even the slightest interest in studying abroad, I encourage them, as passionately as I can, to do so.
LEARN HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR A GLOBAL ACCESS AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP
The Global Access Ambassador Scholarship program provides awards to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year. The scholarships are intended to support students who study abroad with the intent to serve as Global Access Ambassadors upon return to the UI campus. Upon completion of the study abroad program and return to UI, award recipients are asked to submit a photo and an open letter to prospective students or suggest an alternate means of sharing with prospective students.
Please note that the opinions and views expressed by ambassadors are solely those of the students and do not reflect or represent the views of International Programs or the University of Iowa.
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.