Has it ever occurred to you that you can earn credits for course requirements off Hope’s campus? Have you heard someone talking about studying abroad?
From a first-hand perspective I can tell you to go. Go out. Explore the world studying abroad. Take a month, two months, or if you are zealous, take an entire semester to travel! There are so many options for you!
You can study Art in Austria, Education in Liverpool, Science in Australia and more! Or you can opt to study in another state, instead of traveling to another country. The world is open for you, take hold of it.
My Experience
I wrestled for a year with the idea of studying abroad. My entire Sophomore year was spent debating if it would be beneficial. If I would have the funds. If I would have the time. So, when Junior year rolled around and the email went out inviting students to apply to study abroad I shrugged my shoulder and figured it was worth at least applying. There was no guarantee I would go due to limited seats.
You can about imagine my surprise when I got accepted to study abroad for the month of May in Vienna, Austria. I also got my first pick class, Art and Architecture. I was nervous to begin raising money, and ensuring I was paying enough on time was hard. But it was so incredibly worth it.
There were some bumps in the road when I was finally in Vienna, but by the end of the month, I didn’t want to leave. Vienna had managed to worm it’s way into my heart. Sure, I was in class every morning, and there was homework, but my afternoons were free to explore and wander wherever I wanted. I got to see so much of the world.
So, battle those nerves and doubts. Take the chance. Go. Explore. Open doors that would have normally been closed.