Why Every Student Should Study Abroad (At Least Once)

AFS Students (me with friends) in Leuven, Belgium. 11/2/21

I’ve studied abroad three times so far: one time in high school for a full academic year and twice in my third year of college. All three experiences taught me valuable information that can’t be found in a classroom. Every student should study abroad, at least once in their academic career. Here are my three amazing study-abroad experiences—all the evidence you need to convince you to study abroad!

Arlon, Belgium

International Students in Arlon, Belgium. Nia Stiggers 10/14/21

At the ripe age of 16, as a junior in high school, I left the U.S. all on my own to live in Arlon, Belgium, for an entire year. I stayed with a lovely host family with four daughters and a very fluffy cat in the southeasternmost part of the country, bordering Luxembourg. For a high school student, going that far away from home for the first time, and for such a long period, was really scary. But overcoming that fear gave me one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

I stayed in a rural village outside the city with a family of six (seven if you include the cat!). Luckily, my host parents spoke multiple languages, including English. Unfortunately, I couldn’t say the same about my four younger host sisters. It took about a month and a half before I started understanding the French words that came out of their mouths, and almost three months before I could respond correctly. 

Being immersed in the culture and language was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. It helped me break out of my shell and understand new perspectives. I took classes in French at L’Académie des Beaux-Arts de la Ville d’Arlon. I taught my host family’s friends how to play the flute, and in exchange their mother gave me free grammar lessons each week. I was constantly trying something new. Getting to that feeling of belonging and community makes overcoming the fear of leaving home that much more rewarding. 

Seville, Spain, and Lisbon, Portugal

Me with friends I made abroad; Cordoba, Spain, 10/3/25

Last year, I studied abroad again. I spent the fall semester of my junior year in Seville, Spain, and my spring semester in Lisbon, Portugal. Living in Andalucía was a life-changing experience.

My classes took place in an old tobacco factory, now Universidad de Sevilla. I immersed myself in Spanish culture: I stayed with a Spanish host family, watched Spanish TV, ate Spanish food, and took classes in Spanish. My program offered various trips, excursions, and activities for the students. I made so many friends from all over the world through this. With my program, I traveled to Cordoba, Granada, and different Sevillian barrios. On my own and with friends, I went to London and Dublin. I am so grateful to have met so many lovely people who helped make my study-abroad journey that much better.

I spent the least amount of time in Portugal, but the experience was just as impactful. I had the most amazing opportunity to intern at an art gallery in the city, in a beautiful and diverse neighborhood full of karaoke bars and fun restaurants. Some of my favorite memories are of working outside with my colleagues, enjoying the gorgeous architecture that surrounded us. I did administrative work that put me at the frontline at all events, greeting patrons and artists and checking them in to the gallery. Though this was the one place where I did not immerse myself in the language, I still made beautiful memories and felt like I was beginning to adapt to the culture.

I Studied Abroad—You Should Too

Going abroad was the best experience I could ever recommend to another student. Living alone in a new city is scary, but it’s also your chance to find yourself. I had the chance to travel all over the world (international train tickets are so cheap, especially in Europe!). This is your chance to try something new, travel the world, and maybe even learn a new language while you’re at it. I studied abroad, and I think you should too.