This upcoming summer there were plans to send students from Raymond Walters College to amazing places such as Germany, Great Britain, and Costa Rica on a study abroad program. The Germany trip is still planning on going in August, but unfortunately there were only four applicants for the British trip and one for the Costa Rica trip, so these two programs had to be canceled. This news amazed me, and I just could not understand fully why this would be. With RWC enrollment for the year being over 4,000 students, it is simply amazing to me that more students would not want to take this opportunity to explore the world. Granted, the money is an issue that has to be taken under consideration, and even though the price is actually relatively low considering how much it could cost if you did not go through the school program, it is still a hefty penny. On the other hand, if there is anything worth that kind of money, a trip to a different continent in my mind would have to be at the top of the list.
I have had a lot of moments in my life that have led to my maturing from an 18-year old acting as a seven-year old to a 22-year old acting like a 14-year old, but no experience has helped shape my life as much as living in Germany for a few years and traveling around Europe. It opened my eyes to the real world and the realization that there was more to life than suburban Cincinnati.
While experiencing different cultures and unique environments, I was able to sit back and consider how lucky and truly blessed I am. There are so many amazing places to see in this world other than one of the ten party beaches in Florida.
While lying on the beach and enjoying the sun is wonderful, I believe everyone would come back from a two-week European vacation with a fresh new outlook on life. Whether it be exploring numerous museums in Berlin, Germany, or experiencing the unbelievable party life in Ibiza, Spain, there are so many places in Europe with such rich history that our wonderful country just cannot compare with.
By no means is this an anti-American piece that encourages individuals to move from the United States of America. I just feel that everyone has so much to learn from a trip to a foreign place and feel that I would be inklings of the man I am today if it was not for my many memories of life in Europe.
As much as raising the money might not be feasible for some, it would be well worth the investment if they could somehow save up enough money to travel to any of these places next year. Best of luck to everyone who is trying to save up the money for it and hope that anyone reading this will take into mind the amazing places this world has to offer us and not get content in our same yearly vacation spots.