Why You Should Go on a Study Abroad
Posted: November 09, 2022 | Author: Abbie Cochrane | Read Time: 3 minutes
The world is so big, sometimes to the point that it feels impossible to get out there and see what it offers. I never thought I would go on my dream trip before I turned 20, but as a student at Southern Utah University, I got that opportunity through a study abroad excursion. In May of 2022, I had the wonderful experience of going to London for a film study abroad. Here is what I learned, and here is why you should go on an SUU study abroad trip as well.
During this study abroad in London, I was joined by other theatre majors and some students who weren’t connected to theatre at all. I’m a musical theatre major, so this trip was practically tailor-made for me. However, there were a few students in our trip of 30 who weren’t theatre based at all! Any student can study abroad and is encouraged to do so. These trips are an awesome way to get credits for any general requirements beyond sitting in a classroom. You get to see a unique part of the world and get school credit for it. Sounds like a perfect deal.
It was a bit tricky to figure out international flights and fill out all the necessary paperwork, but with the help of my professors, my first time traveling out of the country went smoothly. The hard part can be scraping the money together, but I promise you, it is completely worth every cent. Not to mention that SUU offers study abroad scholarships! I have never had an experience like this, and I learned so much from the trip–things that I will remember for the rest of my life.
London has been my dream destination since I was very young. This trip was a dream come true due to my love of learning and theatre. Most of our days were spent touring different museums and seeing the history preserved in glass cases for the world to see. My favorite museums were the National Gallery, the British Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. We also visited several historical landmarks like Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, the Tower of London, and the one and only Buckingham Palace. If you like art and history, you will love this trip.
I saw seven theatre productions while I was there, and even if theatre isn’t your thing, I can promise you that it is magical to see a West End or Globe production. Theatre is like a religion to the actors of London. They live and breathe it. In London, theatre is celebrated beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. I had many encounters with people in the city who asked where I was from and what I was doing in London. Whenever I mentioned I was a musical theatre student, their eyes would light up. The people are some of the nicest in the world. Not only the people from the U.K., but the streets were a melting pot of culture. I didn’t walk ten steps without hearing six different languages and seeing all kinds of people.
The thing I loved most about London was the rich history. The city is centuries old and has seen the rise and fall of some of the most powerful empires to ever exist. It has been the home of many creative minds and you can feel the roots that bind the past with the present as the city looks to the future. If the cobblestone streets could talk, they’d sing tales of kings and queens, poets and writers, actors, scientists, war heroes, and every other person of merit who walked these streets before.
Study Abroad at SUU
If you have a chance to study abroad, take it. It’s one of the most wonderful and life-changing experiences. To see a different part of the world and learn from it has benefitted my education in ways I never thought possible. You make friends with the people on your trip and you experience the world together.
For more information about how to study abroad as a student at SUU, visit the Learning Abroad Office or talk to your academic advisor. To learn more about the London trip, visit the SUU in London page.
Tags: Study Abroad Student Life
