As a student, going abroad to experience new cultures and sights stirs feelings of excitement and anticipation. However, it can also brew feelings of anxiety within your family. Though your relatives’ concerns are valid, family members should understand that studying in a new country opens the door to a world of opportunities.
If your family worries about you going abroad, here are tips to help alleviate their concerns.
If you’re in the early stages of the application process and need help presenting the idea of a semester abroad to your family, consider doing one or all of the following:
- Have research at hand to support the educational benefits of your travel.
- If you have family in a certain location, consider this as a possible destination. Your relatives may be more comfortable with the idea that family members will be nearby in the event of an emergency. Similarly, they might not be as worried about factors like housing and transportation if you are around people who are familiar with the area.
- If finances are a big concern, you should research the cost of living in your destination. You can consider locations with a cost of living that is lower than in Austin. Remember that Texas Global offers many scholarships and even maintains funding resources that are specific to certain destinations.
- Many families will have safety concerns. I encourage you to conduct thorough research on travel advisories in the destinations you are interested in. Be ready to provide your family with information to allay their safety concerns and the precautions you plan to take upon your arrival during the program.
After your family accepts your decision to go abroad, anxieties may persist upon your departure from the United States. Here are some ways you can help mitigate their anxieties:
- Get connected. Download WhatsApp and ask your family to download it, too. WhatsApp allows users to send text messages and make phone calls internationally for free. This will enable you to communicate easily with your family back home without incurring additional fees from your phone provider.
- Schedule calls. Time zones will make it hard to communicate as frequently as you would at home, but you can still sort out times that work for both you and your relatives at home. Scheduling calls on a regular basis will help your family know that you are safe and sound.
- Confide in them. Though you may be scared to fuel your family’s anxiety, it is important to share your moments of vulnerability with them. If you have a rough day or feel homesick, describe your feelings to them. This will show them that you trust them and help them feel closer to you, even when you’re far away.
- Consider becoming a Global Ambassador. Not only will you get to share your experiences and encourage other Longhorns to study abroad, but you will also compile a rich record of your thoughts and adventures that your family can keep up with while you’re away.
Remind your family (and yourself) that studying abroad is temporary; you will enjoy your time at your destination and return to your family in a matter of months. When you come home, you’ll be able to recount all the wonderful memories you made while abroad. And you can exhibit to them the value of your experience by including it on your resumé to make your job applications unique and broaden the opportunities you’ll attract.
Time flies, and upon reuniting with your family, it can feel like you were never away at all.
Bryn Palmer is an Education Abroad Peer Mentor providing support to students interested in studying abroad. Learn about this position and its services on the Peer Mentors Program webpage.
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