Why go abroad after high school: discover the 5 reasons
For many, finishing secondary school means a difficult choice. Many young people therefore decide to leave after their final year and embark on an adventure abroad to gain time to discover their true calling, strengthen their language skills, prepare for exams, complete a university preparatory year, volunteer, and so on. The possibilities are numerous, as are the reasons for going abroad after secondary school, as Languages and Travel explains.
You've just finished six years of structured education and you're hesitating: you're afraid of making the wrong choice, you're not 100% sure yet? Don't panic! It's normal; at only 18, you're already being asked to decide what to do for the next 5-6 years, which will then define the rest of your life… what pressure! But still, be careful, At L&T, we believe that repeating the second year of secondary school is a waste of time. Why repeat a year when you can follow programs that will help you progress? similar to a preparatory year like the one offered by Study Experience, the Belgian specialist in higher education and university preparations abroad or, a Working Holiday and to become more independent. In any case, here's why going abroad after high school is a good alternative for preparing for your future.
1) Learn or improve a foreign language
Beware of misconceptions: a year abroad is not a vacation (even if it's possible to combine business with pleasure). Nor is it a "wasted" year. If you go with the aim of improving or simply learning a language, you'll only benefit ! Total immersion is the best way to practice: you'll speak without even realizing it, and native speakers are in the best position to correct you. You'll directly apply the concepts learned in class to everyday life. You'll also quickly realize that there are a host of subtleties you wouldn't have been able to learn anywhere else!
Furthermore, today, knowing a second or even a third language is not just a plus on any CV, but practically a necessity. Traveling before your studies will allow you to adapt to this phenomenon of globalization, as there is a strong chance that you will have to travel in the future.
2) Becoming independent through travel
Independence is the key word in this kind of endeavor. You'll be away from your family and will learn to rely on yourself. This can, of course, be either exciting or daunting. In either case, you'll develop your autonomy. Being alone can be intimidating at first; after all, it's a huge leap out of your comfort zone. Of course, you have to let time do its work; nothing happens overnight. Slowly but surely, you'll become a master at taking care of yourself : you'll learn to manage a budget, the little hassles of everyday life (administrative tasks, grocery shopping, etc.). All sorts of responsibilities that you often weren't really faced with before.
Being away from home will make you test your limits in different ways, something you would never experience at home because, generally speaking, your parents are most of the time (or even all the time) there to give you a boost, to shake you up.
Being independent doesn't mean being alone. When you travel abroad, you'll quickly realize that you're never truly isolated. Making new friends will become second nature (very useful for university life). You'll meet a lot of people, often from all corners of the globe, who are in the same situation as you. You'll learn from their experiences, and vice versa.
Independence will help you grow in countless ways, and you'll also learn to trust your instincts. It's a first taste of what awaits you at university: administrative procedures, lectures, and of course, the social aspect—making friends. Whether it's during a traditional language immersion program or a university preparatory year, you'll discover who you are, what you're capable of, and what you want from life.
3) Develop one's intellectual abilities
Going abroad after high school is a considerable asset for the future. You will be forced to grow and develop a range of skills useful not only for your everyday life but also for your academic and professional career. Among the advantages:
– Adaptability : Traveling means adapting to a new culture and a new language. Whether in academia or the professional world, you will need to get used to a new environment outside the constraints of school with its well-defined rules.
– Being able to face challenges : Resolving problematic situations, whether administrative or otherwise, will become easier.
– Being able to make effective decisions and thus have the capacity to lead projects; determination is now within you and will accompany you in your student and professional life.
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Increased self-confidence : Simply having to meet new people, make friends, and ask for help will make you more confident. Patience will become second nature. – You will become more curious.
– The ability to appreciate new cultures and be more tolerant.
4) A cultural and personal discovery
Traveling means discovering more about the culture of the country where you live and learning more about yourself as well. Ultimately, you will be able to understand and identify with that culture.
Traveling abroad after high school allows you to broaden your horizons and challenge the preconceived notions instilled by your own culture . It helps you move beyond an ethnocentric perspective, opening yourself to others and becoming more tolerant. Upon arriving in a foreign country, everyone has a vague idea of how it works. It's only with time that they will truly integrate into this new culture. This will lead to a host of situations, both funny and challenging, that will help them grow and ultimately change their perspective.
You're not in a classroom, but you're constantly learning, embracing a new way of life, new habits, and discovering more about yourself. You'll return from your trip with a thousand stories to tell. If you stay with a host family, you'll be immersed in the local culture. You'll learn about the customs and practice the language 24/7 (because, yes, you'll even dream in the foreign language).
5) Give yourself time to make your choice for what comes next
Finally, taking a year-long trip, leaving after high school, means having an extra year to decide what to do next . Too many students embark on a university (or graduate school) career without much conviction. This results in a waste of money and time. It often leads to failure or a degree with no real future prospects due to a genuine lack of conviction, or even ambition.
Traveling will open your eyes to career alternatives you might never have considered. For example, you might decide to volunteer in Australia and discover a sudden passion for zoology. Or you might live with an au pair in Ireland and realize that sociology, anthropology, or even Gaelic football are what you're really into! You'll try all sorts of new activities because you want to make the most of every moment and every opportunity.
Another important point: you're able to form your own opinion about your future prospects without the opinions of loved ones holding you back. Because even though they're generally well-intentioned in offering their advice, they often complicate things. For your part, you don't want to disappoint anyone, you hesitate, in short, too many opinions can paralyze you. Traveling is also about gaining perspective on your life, clearing your mind, and working on yourself.
In short, leaving home after high school is an extraordinary life experience . You'll benefit from it no matter what. The world is there, waiting to be explored. It will be a year full of challenges and important decisions, but you'll come out of it a better person. If you make the most of this experience, the future won't be as uncertain as before, and you'll be able to approach it with much more calm and common sense. You'll have a clearer idea of what you want to do and will impress your loved ones with a decisive answer to the dreaded question: "What are you going to do next year?"
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