Academic Excellence Scholarship - 2nd Place

Question: What has been the key to your academic success thus far and how do you feel your participation on a study abroad program will benefit you academically?

There have never been more avenues to a good education than at the present time. Advances in technology have greatly evened the playing field for the rest of the world in the struggle for the top rung on the ladder of academic excellence. Other regions in the world now have an opportunity to compete with the more developed nations. This is a large reason why the U.S. has been losing its competitive edge in education. We are now being surpassed by countries willing to put a stronger and more determined emphasis on educational values.

Education allows us to discover new horizons, to use our intellectual capabilities and to gather meaning from the world. Gaining insight and knowledge outside the United States borders through international experiences can only enhance our grasp of worldly matters. We can do this through travel, education and social interaction outside our borders. In countries around the word the presence of strong higher education systems correlates with positive development, such as greater technology advancement and successful entrepreneurship. To see this first hand, by travelling abroad, rather than reading about it in a book or hearing it through the media or in a lecture, adds another dimension to the experience.

It used to be that talented people from abroad were recruited to come to the U.S. to live and work here. But now our world is one of fast planes, high tech communications and high speed internet. American companies, and competing businesses in other countries, can set up working arrangements in impoverished countries, recruit people in those regions and pay lower wages than what they would have to pay at home. Therefore a “brain drain” of the best minds in those countries is no longer happening on such a large scale, which evens the playing field in search for top talent. These countries are gaining on us in the commerce of the world. Education and technology are the main reasons for this happening.

Often we fail to appreciate the benefits that we can gain when engaging intellectually with the rest of the world. Faculty of American universities would certainly agree that the quality of education on our university campuses is greatly enriched by the presence and involvement of foreign educators and students. Therefore, the converse must certainly be true. That is, American students and faculty traveling abroad will assuredly be rewarded with the educational and social exchanges on foreign campuses.

Traveling to another country to explore new and different cultures, educational and social systems will enrich my educational pursuits. My interaction there will certainly increase my awareness of the international scene. This first hand experience in another part of the world will serve me well in my career goals by allowing me fantastic opportunities as I go forward to make a difference at home and possibly throughout the world. Educational pursuits abroad can only enhance both my competitive edge and that of the United States.

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