Studying abroad may be one of the most beneficial experiences for a college student. By studying abroad, students have the opportunity to study in a foreign nation and take in the allure and culture of a new land. The Office of Study Abroad at West Texas A&M University held its Inaugural Study Abroad Fair to help students explore how they can study abroad. The fair was held on Feb. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Legacy Hall at the Jack B. Kelley Student Center.
According to the WT website and the study abroad page, “Studying abroad is an experience you will carry with you throughout your life. It will not only expose you to a different and unique culture, but it will open doors in academic areas as well as future employment opportunities”.
Carolina Galloway, Director of the Office of Study Abroad, said the purpose of the fair is to provide information in order for students to find what study abroad programs are available to them.
“For example, if anyone has in mind of the idea of studying abroad to Spain in the summer, we can show them exactly what type of programs they can go in to and also make them aware of deadlines, for those programs that are coming up sooner than students realize,” Galloway said.
Something new that was introduced to the fair this year was the option for students to apply for a passport. The U.S. post office attended the study abroad fair to process passport applications for students on the spot.
“A lot of students that are getting ready to study abroad need passports, so we [had] an agent from the post office come in to process passport applications on campus during the fair,” Galloway said. “We hope this is something students [took] advantage of and [came] prepared for since normally you need specific documents to be able to apply.”
In order to apply for a passport, students were required to bring the appropriate documents, such as a birth certificate, driver’s license or other form of photo ID, a photo and a check payment.
“The Study Abroad Fair is something that is really helpful for many of us that wish to study abroad but were never really informed too much about the upcoming programs offered in summer and fall,” Emily Resendez, freshman Nursing major, said. “We now are able to have an idea of where we can travel to and at what cost we have to pay, plus who wouldn’t want to study in a different country. For many of us, it may be the only opportunity we ever get to travel abroad for a long period of time. Eventually you won’t have the time if you wait until after college, since careers and jobs can be a factor of not being able to travel, so you might as well take the opportunity now.”
Students can take advantage of the many travel opportunities presented to them in college through study abroad opportunities, all while learning about and living in a different culture.
