I recently read an excellent essay by Sanford J. Ungar. Published in
Foreign Affairs, the piece explains why it's so important for Americans to study abroad. "The trouble is that relatively few Americans currently enjoy this kind of life-changing overseas experience," writes Ungar. He cites many reasons for this, including inflexible curriculum requirements at American institutions of higher learning and the extra costs that could come with such an endeavor. Another significant problem is "the lack of curricular and socioeconomic diversity among those who do go overseas." (The majority of students who study abroad are white and come from elite backgrounds.) Ungar notes that there have been some steps in the right direction. However, "efforts to increase the number of Americans studying abroad have been piecemeal and only partially successful."
The United States would undoubtedly benefit if more Americans were to study abroad. In an increasingly interconnected world, having a more nuanced understanding of world affairs (including language skills) will become ever more relevant. Yet, moving beyond issues of competition in the global marketplace, U.S. global leadership, and the strategic and national security implications associated with this idea, Ungar's thoughtful piece has reminded me of how important, how absolutely vital my study abroad experiences were in shaping my worldview and encouraging me to appreciate diverse perspectives and different customs.
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