The Quadrangle

Issue date: 9/20/06 Section: Features

Photo courtesy of Jon Stone

For many students, the wisest decision made thus far in life was attending Manhattan College, but it does not have to end there. Life at Manhattan is not confined to the boundaries of Riverdale. Some of the most important opportunities exist outside of the campus, and it would be a shame if students overlooked them
Unfortunately, many students are going to school to get the stereotypical college experience, but in the real world, employers are drawn to students with internship experience and those students who have studied abroad. Get an internship and study abroad. Feel free to live vicariously, or start making quality choices before time runs out.
From personal experience, deciding to study in Australia and backpack around New Zealand and Hawaii during all of junior year was just as important as choosing to study at Manhattan College. Studying abroad is a chance to explore a new side of life, become a stronger individual, and learn to be more accepting of other cultures.
All students have the opportunity to study abroad, and their decisions should not be discouraged by friends who do not want to take advantage. True friends will always be there, but the chance to study abroad will not.
Studying in a foreign country does not have to last for two semesters. Students can stay abroad for one semester or during spare time in the winter or summer. Nonie Wanger and Nancy Cave from the Study Abroad office will do their best to accommodate any travel desires and provide scholarship opportunities.
Students are also not limited to certain countries or designated programs. Choosing a country to study abroad is comparable to playing pin the tail on the donkey; students can pin a miniature plane on a world map.
Although this may sound tempting, students should research programs that satisfy their educational requirements and countries that complement their desires to be immersed in culture. If nomadic cravings are not sparked in students' heads soon, many hours will be spent sulking in dorm rooms because friends went skydiving over the Swiss Alps.
Studying abroad will either be the best decision made in college or the biggest regret for those who do not take advantage. When else will the opportunity arise to leave the country for months at a time and write it off as an educational experience?
Everyone cannot study in a foreign country for various reasons, but there is no excuse for not interning or gaining some sort of work experience related to a student's field of study. It is never too late to dive into an internship. My first internship as a marketing intern at Atlantic Records started during the spring semester of senior year. Just a few days ago a second internship as an editorial assistant exploring parks in 12 midwestern states for Midwest Living Magazine capped off my college career.

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