Spending some time in a foreign country is a great thing for high school students. However, you might be afraid of spending time away from your family and friends. Perhaps you’re worried about your safety, especially during these trying moments. A great idea is to opt for a short-term stay that lasts from a few weeks or months.
Here’s why
Keeping your lifestyle
Spending time abroad is a life-changing opportunity. The possibility of spending just a few weeks or months abroad makes it more fun. You don’t have to give up your lifestyle when you choose to spend some time abroad. A short-term exchange program allows traveling to refreshing destinations and getting a different perspective about life in a short while.
You have to behave like a local to fit in the society during a family-to-family exchange. However, you are less likely to miss yours back home. This is because it is only a matter of time before you get back to living your everyday lifestyle.
Hassle-free travel
Short-term student exchange is free from various processes necessary when planning a long-term stay. You don’t need to waste time comparing and booking hotels and other travel arrangements. The range of summer foreign exchange student programs
A family-to-family exchange allows spending time with a host family. This takes away the stress of making travel arrangements and other day-to-day tasks. You will have all the time to enjoy pleasant moments with your new family with everything well planned before your arrival.
Cost-effective travel
Preparing to go abroad comes with some tasks and costs. You have to buy an air ticket, pay for the program if you don’t have a scholarship, and keep some pocket money. There’s a likelihood of ending up using a significant portion of your savings or getting loans to finance a long-term stay. When you consider a short-term exchange, you need a smaller budget.
Meeting immediate goals
There are situations where knowing that you have experience living in another country gives you an edge. For high school students, the determination and zeal to join an exchange program are highly appreciated.
When applying for college, the selection committee is more likely to choose you because of your experience working in a multicultural setting. Keep in mind that you can easily fit a short-term trip abroad into your tight schedule.
Uninterrupted studies
One of the reasons why some students hesitate to join a student exchange program is for fear of interrupting their studies. However, a short-term stay during summer allows you to discover the new world without even realizing that you spend some time away from your friends and family.
Additionally, you can get credit to improve the overall results of your study. This allows you to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime- opportunity without falling behind in your studies.
Making new connections in a short period
One of the benefits of spending some time in a foreign country is making new connections. A short-term stay allows making new friends in a short period. You’re likely to find like-minded people when you join an international youth camp. These camps usually have students coming from various parts of the globe. The best thing is that this happens in a short period.
A glimpse of the job market
People with dreams of working in foreign countries should not hesitate to join a short-term student exchange program. Keeping your potential career in mind, you can join a program that will see you travel to the country of your choice. Here, you have an excellent opportunity to see the job prospects available. For a career like volunteering, the short-term program
Fewer safety concerns
Situations are not the same in all countries. So, safety is a significant concern when planning to spend time abroad. Today, you have to mind about the safety and the prevailing COVID-19 situation in your destination country. Keep in mind that all countries are not facing the same phase of the pandemic.
Another safety concern when considering spending time abroad is political unrest. This mostly happens in third-world countries. You’re less likely to end up in any form of instability in your host country if you’re to stay for a few weeks or months. So, considering a short-term stay is a great idea when worried about your safety abroad.
Bottom line
There’s no excuse why high school students should not spend time abroad. Scholarships are available from bodies like Rotary International for those facing financial difficulties. Those concerned about their safety and missing their families back home can opt for a short-term stay. You get to catch a glimpse of your job market or travel on a tight schedule without the hassles involved in a long-term stay abroad.
