Helen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all’’, many agree with this whilst never daring to embark on a journey. What could be the best time to embrace an adventure than being young, as it satiates curiosity like nothing else. So never skip a chance to travel for leisure or educational purposes, and you will be amazed at the outcomes. While college years may be teaching you about the theories, it may never tutor you what you can learn on the road; a firsthand experience which teaches you more than any book. Additionally, for youngsters travelling has become a very easy and affordable activity, with lower fares and easy routes; it is much convenient to travel today than it was about a decade ago. Student travel has been on the rise, it not only gives them a chance to enjoy their selves but to study the culture of the nation they are visiting.
Why start travelling when you are young?
Student travel is highly recommended not only because it is cheap, apart from the contrary belief; it is fun and educating at the same time. Most students don’t even consider the idea of going abroad thinking that it may cost a lot, overlooking student discounts they may be eligible for, which may cut the price in half. Once you skip the opportunity to travel in your youth you may never get it as the utility bills, rent, family expenditures, and other responsibilities may tie your hands for years, in some cases probably until the retirement. Many students miss the chance while they are young only to regret later in their lives. The best piece of advice for students is maybe to grab the opportunity as soon as they see it or they may end up with no knowledge of other cultures and may end up asking someone to help in their thesis. Some students even
pay for someone to write paper for them as they missed the chance of acquiring firsthand knowledge on their own. Although fear of expensive travel may be true, there are ways students can find ways of travelling cheap.
• It is not that expensive
So even after all the discounts if you still find travel expensive, then you can always explore a delightful option that is designed only for students, which is scholarships. There are some universities across the globe that fund even the entire fee, making it a dream come true for any student who wants to
study abroad. You need to find just the right scholarship donors offering programs ranging from research to linguistics, and you will hit the jackpot. These programs are specially designed to welcome foreign students providing them with an opportunity to travel with bare
minimum expenses. Some of the colleges not only fund your entire fee, but they also provide residence, stationary, and food like King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals.
• It can help you become a solid person
If you are lucky enough to find the university that offers scholarship then grab the chance immediately. Although earning a scholarship is an onerous job, as one feels responsible for spending all energies on studies, it is a good idea to indulge in travel-related activities too at the same time. It will not only open varied doors of opportunities for you to earn valuable traits like networking, bilingualism etc. but will also enable you to roam around and enlighten other cognitive abilities too. Like learning some local music or art, adding a little extra to your portfolio giving you an extra edge. Even sitting with local people and talking about small things can help you understand life from a different perspective, giving rise to genuine empathy and compassion.
• Stepping out your comfort zone will change your life
Moreover, the best skill you will learn in a foreign land is self-reliance and independence, something that cannot be learnt from the comfort of your home or home town. And as Mark Twain puts it, ‘Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts’. Travelling can tangibly help you overcome your xenophobia, elevates your empathy, and enhance you cognition over the period of time. Not to mention you will develop a global perspective which no alma mater can make you learn otherwise. Also, cultural differences between your country and the one you are residing in during your studies, teaches you tolerance and resourcefulness, skills which will come in handy in your later life. There have been instances where students went to a foreign land and returned a whole new and improved version of them, delighting everyone back home.
It can be said that investing in travel is as good as investing in your education - the results will amaze you. Travelling during your student life may be the best chance to enhance your abilities to survive in the global village, keep a vigilant eye on the scholarship grants in countries worldwide. Strive for fully funded scholarship but don’t miss even if you are offered half or quarter scholarship because it will take at least some of the load off. Make a prompt effort and seize the first opportunity you get to experience a whole new world before the time passes by and as it’s said a wasted time never returns.
About the author:
Crystal Roman is a well-known writer and also serves as a student counsellor at Bedford Academy. She is popular among students for her honest and motivating style. Crystal also serves as a guest speaker at motivational events.
