Benefits and Difficulties of Studying Abroad - Essay Example

Benefits vs Difficulties of Studying Abroad Education is a multi-billion dollar industry. Every year, hundreds of thousands migrate from underdeveloped and developing countries to the developed countries in search of quality education. Education is one of the highly contributing industries to the economy of the first-world countries. Quality education does not come easy for the migrant students. They have to undergo a whole range of difficulties to get the degree that is recognized and respected all over the world. Financial liabilities are just one of the difficulties. However, the benefits of studying abroad far outweigh the difficulties associated with it, especially in the long run. Critics argue that studying abroad is not a viable option for the migrant students because they face too many difficulties. Difficulties that are commonly identified include excessively large fees, culture shock, lack of guarantee of employment after completion of studies, home-sickness, departure from good norms and values of the indigenous culture, bullying, racism, and a tendency to fall prey to criminals as a result of lack of supervision and guidance of parents and/or guardians. Even the huge sums paid in fees is alone too large a burden on the shoulders of the students to justify studying abroad. Often, it takes a life-time of savings for the parents to finance the education of their child abroad. Many students are indebted for years after the completion of their studies. In an attempt to reduce the financial burden, many students tend to study part-time and find jobs along with studies. This compromises their quality of studying and they end up getting poor grades. Consequently, their chances of getting a good job after graduation are jeopardized. Critics also argue that students should not go abroad for studies because this departs them permanently from their roots. Many students who go abroad for studying never come back to their homelands. After the completion of their studies abroad, they find opportunities that keep them from returning to their homelands. This is emotionally daunting particularly for the parents and families of the migrant students. Even if this has certain benefits for the students, the practice essentially deprives their home-countries from a pool of highly talented and educated class of people. This has adverse effects on the potential of growth for their home-lands. Apart from this, many students cannot even wish their parents a good-bye before either or both of the parents die. Many cannot make it to their homelands in time to have the last glance of their parents. These difficulties are emotionally and psychologically demanding for the migrant students. Many students find it difficult to concentrate upon their studies because they constantly keep thinking about their families. Homesickness coupled with culture shock keeps them distressed and for many, reflects badly on their performance in studies. Difficulties associated with studying abroad are generally temporary. The first difficulty faced while studying abroad is of culture shock. Students find it difficult to adapt to a completely new and different culture. However, most students eventually come out of culture shock and start to integrate into the host culture more and more with every passing day. As culture shock recedes, so do most of the non-financial difficulties related to studying abroad. In fact, many first-world countries are multicultural societies and foreigner communities that are established in them for a long time welcome and assist the new-comers from their respective communities. It does not take the migrant students long to develop and start growing their social networks abroad. Unlike the difficulties, benefits received from studying abroad are permanent. Once gained, the student develops and maintains the identity of a graduate of a highly reputable university for a lifetime. This means increased chances of employability everywhere in the world, increased job security, higher pay, and increased benefits throughout the professional career. While many universities charge the foreigner students a lot, many students manage to earn their paid fees back in a matter of few years. It does not take these graduates long to start accruing the benefits and advantages in addition to recovering their money paid to the universities. Experience of studying abroad broadens the students’ vision and makes them more receptive and welcome toward new and innovative ideas. They step out of their home-culture to witness and be a part of new aspects of the world. They start developing a sense of, and integrating into a global culture. Understanding and awareness of global culture is of paramount importance to achieve success in the highly dynamic and multicultural contemporary society. Whether a migrant student eventually comes back or not is their decision. Likewise, it is for a student to decide what company they choose in the host country, what kind of people they socialize with, and what moral status they maintain. Studying abroad does not deprive an individual of moral values. It is the inner self that makes or breaks the character of a student. Studying abroad provides a student with an opportunity to think independently and grow as an individual by making their own decisions. Even if some of these students never go back to their home-countries, a considerable population of them sends remittance to their parents and families in their home-countries. Remittance sent to the home-countries is a great source of economic empowerment for the underdeveloped and developing countries. So it cannot be said that studying abroad of students deprives their homelands of resources. It is just that some resources are replaced by others. To conclude, studying abroad undoubtedly exposes the migrant students to different kinds of difficulties, though the benefits obtained from the trend are longer-lasting and more compared to the difficulties. Challenges associated with studying abroad are temporary. With a good focus and good company, most migrant students do not take long to successfully come out of their problems. However, once graduated, students not only manage to recover their fees, but also manage to improve their and their families’ lifestyles. Considering the fact that benefits of studying abroad outweigh its difficulties, students should be encouraged to study abroad and change their lives for the better. Read More