More than half of the junior class at Middlebury studies abroad each year. They leave behind the comforts and benefits of staying on campus to immerse themselves in a foreign language, experience another culture and confront a totally different, often even more rigorous academic environment. Students who choose not to go abroad recognize the treasures and fleeting nature of our time at Middlebury or find themselves committed to extracurricular activities, course work or friend groups that entice them to remain here. There is no one right answer in making this choice. That being said, we believe that the more students who choose to study abroad, the better off Middlebury both in its global impact and in the vibrancy of its community here in Vermont.
Financial aid packages are easily transferable to Middlebury schools abroad. That means that for many of us, the opportunity to live and travel abroad is significantly less expensive right now than it will be or has been at other times in our lives. Going out into the far corners of the world for the purpose of intercultural exchange and education makes us more open-minded and more confident, preparing us to return to Middlebury both believing in ourselves and having gained an elevated understanding of the world we bury our noses in books here to study.
At a time when the U.S. administration is focusing inward and the global reputation of Americans is diminishing, sending educated young people enthusiastic to listen and engage with other cultures out into the world is especially important. Middlebury, with all of its connections and the strengths of its programs (it takes a special standing to be able to set up a study abroad program in Kazakhstan for Russian language learners, for example), is in a unique position to facilitate this vital exchange. As the college looks forward at forming its future identity, we call for it to continue to prioritize the schools abroad with this very goal in mind.
Many of Middlebury’s programs were built by faculty directly connected to departments on campus. Some are not only academically aligned with courses here, but are integral to fulfilling major requirements. While some programs Middlebury students sign up for are objectively easier than others, those that are Middlebury-sponsored force us to take our studies and immersion seriously. The Language Pledge or the one-on-one tutorials in the Oxford program are not easy endeavors, and we take pride in the fact that so many of us choose to take them on.
Those of us who have studied abroad realize how confident the difficult situations we were forced into while away turned us. Much of the value of studying abroad comes from the things you can’t plan for. Small accomplishments, such as navigating how to get to class in a foreign city, become your win of the day and bring a healthy perspective to your Middlebury experience. Often lonely, stressed and missing the comfort of our friends and Vermont dorm rooms, we transformed into self-assured and experienced people. When we returned, we were more appreciative of the community we left behind and ready to make the most of our remaining time on campus.
Regardless, we want to emphasize that choosing to study abroad will always be a personal choice that not everyone can make. There are many benefits to spending your four years here on campus. The students who stay enrich our campus culture by making new friends in the absence of their usual groups, and ensure consistency in the campus activities that thrive under their leadership and commitment. There are also numerous logistical barriers at play: The high number of language prerequisites required for some study abroad programs are challenging to complete, especially if you started studying the language here. Often, studying abroad requires nearly perfect planning and foresight of your college classes, and that’s not something that’s feasible or even compelling for everyone.
Studying abroad should be valued for the opportunity that it is. It is a meaningful chance to become part of an academically robust community in another country, struggle as you enter adulthood, fail at new things and grow up. Few opportunities are able to give you as many life valuable experiences in a concentrated period of time. But there are also other times in life when we can have enriching, humanizing experiences, and there is plenty of time to gain these skills without studying abroad. Part of what makes this experience so unique is knowing that it will eventually come to an end. Leaving the Middlebury bubble reminds us why we cherish it. Coming back, we return more grounded, responsible and globally-minded, living more fully into the values Middlebury claims to champion.
