If you find the idea of eventually spending some time abroad interesting, here’s what I can recommend doing starting right now:
- Work on learning a language. Many of you probably have a head start on Spanish, but you could always start a new one as well, either through an online program of some sort or language classes at college. Listen to songs, watch movies or TV shows, and find things to read in the language you’re learning – even if you don’t understand everything perfectly, it really helps to get the feel of the language in your brain. If you can find a speaker of the language who’s willing to give you some conversational practice, that’s even better.
- If you plan on going to college, find out what study-abroad programs might be available to you there. Most colleges and universities have a study-abroad office that you can talk to. I first came to France through a study-abroad program, and made many connections while I was there that helped me come back.
- Find out what financial resources might be available to you. Studying abroad is expensive, but if you start looking early, you might be able to find scholarships and grants to apply for. If you work hard and smart, there is often a way to get things funded. Some colleges or their humanities departments might offer study-abroad scholarships (mine did, which helped quite a lot), and the best way to find out about what exists is to ask your professors and study-abroad office as early as you can. There are also sometimes federal study-abroad scholarships that you can apply for: my study-abroad semester in 2022 was paid for in part by a Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship, which is funded by the U.S.
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