With the status of the economy today jobs are becoming harder and harder to find after graduation. College graduates with degrees in every field (Engineering, Biochemistry, Humanities, and Political Science just to name a few) are having a lot of trouble finding jobs after graduation. Many of these graduates end up working in administrative assistant jobs or interning because there aren't any other options. According to the CNN Money article Have Degree - and Pink Slip, "There are currently a record number of unemployed college graduates seeking work. So many, in fact, that they outnumber high school dropouts on the job hunt" (CNN Money.com).
If you want to get ahead of the game, then Graduating with Confidence is the perfect book for you. This book will show you how to make the most of your time outside of the classroom in order to define your career goals and take the extra initiative you will need to get that dream job.
Warning: Traveling may be addictive and cause symptoms such as yearning to travel more, wondering why you are in class when you could be in Rome, or planning another trip while you are still traveling. One thing that can really make your college experience special is traveling. Traveling does not necessarily have to do with your academic educational experience (unless you study abroad), but can still be educational. Traveling can offer life-changing, eye-opening experiences that you should not pass up on.
As a student, you should take advantage of those summer and winter breaks to explore the world if you can afford it. And even short, inexpensive trips, can be valuable. Most importantly, while you are young is THE time to travel! I heard this many times from friends, family, and almost everyone I met on my trips abroad.
Why travel when you’re young? Because once you are set on a full-time job or have a family to take care of, it is hard to take time off just to travel. It may be possible to spend your ten-day vacation allotment per year traveling, however it is a whole different situation when you spend a year studying in Australia or working in London. And for most people in college, you do not have to worry about taking care of a family, buying a house, or working full-time year round. So college can be the perfect time to travel and experience life before you have to settle down and take on the responsibilities of the real world.
Tina Rowe, a good friend of mine, put it best by saying, “[the] college years are often referred to as the ‘best years in your life,’ because they are years marked by new independence, but lacking the complete responsibilities of more ‘mature’ adults.”
So take advantage of your independence and freedom while you can, and get out and explore the world. Use your breaks in college to travel and try to find a study or work abroad program to do for an entire year.
Why Travel?
At some point in your life, you may have wanted to see the Eiffel Tower up close, run with the bulls in Spain, or watch a Brazilian soccer game at a stadium in Rio de Janeiro. While traveling, you can have these experiences along with the chance to see the many differences between the cultures you encounter. You will be able to view amazing works of art and architecture that convey history, meanwhile strengthening your skills in communication, flexibility, and time management.
While traveling, you can broaden your understanding of different cultures. You can visit museums to study the history of the community or learn the language to have conversations with the locals. It can be fun to explore the traditions and the way of life for each culture you visit. For example, in France you may have the opportunity to sit down to a five-hour dinner where they serve many courses and you chat the night away. In Spain, you can’t even find a place to eat dinner until 9 pm, because the Spanish are used to taking an afternoon break, or “siesta,” eating a late snack, then eating a late dinner. Also, in Madrid you will see people out shopping in department stores until midnight on weekdays. On the other hand, in places like Nicaragua, where electricity is too expensive, entire cities shut off the electricity at seven at night and you have to eat by candlelight and read or play cards to pass the time away in the dark before falling asleep.
Traveling has benefits that go beyond what you can write on your resume. When you are at home, you are in a comfort zone: everyone speaks the same language, you know many people and have many friends, and you never get lost. One of the most valuable aspects of traveling is that it will take you outside of your comfort zone and allow you to discover what you are truly capable of doing. Even graduate schools look for students that have experienced life outside of their own city or country. Medical schools are interested in applicants who have been willing to move out of their comfort zones and place themselves in the position of ‘other.’ These applicants show promise that they will be able to empathize with patients from other counties. In today’s more interdependent world it is inevitable that cross-cultural understanding and acceptance will be assets employers expect from their employees. (Holland 201)
What are you waiting for? Start researching opportunities to explore the world!
We completely agree!!! My friend, Jerri, and I felt the same way so we founded a travel website called "Do It While You're Young" (www.diwyy.com). We have both had so many experiences that have opened our eyes and shaped us into the people we are today thanks to our globetrotting habit!
Travelling is great! Lovely pics by the way.
I invite you on facebook fanpage about travelling:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bezpieczny-turysta/280478775399730
Share your story with us :)
Great article!
There's another option though - why not study and travel at the same time using online learning?
Two birds with one stone :)
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