By Julie Santiago
Students should take advantage of the many study abroad opportunities we have at ELAC.
Traveling is less expensive and more possible than most probably think.
There is financial help for college students and most study abroad programs at ELAC provide additional help like fundraising, scholarships, and money-saving tips.
Many college students can save enough money to travel if they make it a priority.
According to Money, millenials spend more money on same-day shipping, craft beer, energy drinks and gas-station food more than any other previous generation.
If this sounds like you, think about what you spend your money on the most and ask yourself if it’s something you could do without.
You could go to the movies on the weekends which can cost anywhere from $20 to $60 each time, or you can save that money and use it in Ireland to buy a few beers or whiskey instead. You can save today for a more exciting tomorrow. It’s all a matter of priorities.
Traveling doesn’t have to be super expensive if you plan and do your research.
There are so many websites that give tips on how to be a smart traveler, like samanthability.com and wanderwisdom.com. Those are just two of the many websites you can find that offer tips on how to travel cheaply.
These and other resources make it easier to travel as a broke college student.
Many tourist attractions offer discounted rates and sometimes free admission for students, yet another reason to travel now rather than later.
Traveling as a student can also be helpful to those people who might be afraid to travel alone.
You can travel as a group with people your age or with people you already know.
You can sign up for a study abroad class with your best friend.
You can also travel with professors who already know where you’re visiting and can advise you if you’re nervous about getting out of the country.
Studying abroad can be fun for those who find class boring and who might like a different experience while earning college credits.
Imagine learning about art while walking through the Musée du Louvre.
You can learn things you couldn’t possibly get from being in a four-cornered classroom or from reading an article.
Traveling makes you more aware of other cultures, people and ultimately yourself.
It helps you grow as a person and become a more well-rounded individual, which is what college is about.
Many young adults nowadays don’t know what to do with their life.
Traveling can also help young people by inspiring a good course of action and help steer them in the right direction.
Traveling as a young person is also great because their bodies are able to do more physically demanding things.
Walking for long periods of time, flying or strenuous adventures are less doable as you get older.
Traveling at a young age is also ideal since most young people don’t have family responsibilities or careers holding them back.
As people get older, most will have bigger responsibilities and think twice about traveling.
You should travel while you’re young, able and free to do whatever you want.
It’s okay to be a little selfish here because life won’t always be just about you.
According to a 2012 Forbes article, some of the biggest regrets people had on their deathbed were not living the life they wanted to, working too hard and not traveling more.
People go their whole lives wanting to do certain things and many end up never doing them.
Mark Twain once said, “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”
Don’t be that person.