Normalizing Degrees Abroad
When students graduate in Italy rather than the cap and gown worn in many other countries, it’s tradition for graduates to be crowned with a laurel wreath to celebrate the occasion as a symbol of triumph dating back to ancient Rome.
Facing Resistance: What Happens When You Choose College Abroad
One of the first barriers people may encounter when deciding to pursue a degree abroad is the friction of family members or friends disagreeing with their choice.
I, for one, experienced months, if not years of this. Seemingly everyone developed strong opinions on what I was choosing to do with my life. Suddenly my choices were being looked at under a microscope.
This all began when I presented a PowerPoint to my parents, proposing why it would be more beneficial for me to attend college in Europe than in the United States. I was met with an immediate and firm “no”. This was quite understandable, as both of my parents were born and raised in the same town they now work in. They both went to college 45 minutes away from home, so how could their daughter even consider moving across the ocean?
The process of navigating these new dynamics took months. I had to relentlessly defend this idea of mine, and ultimately, I needed to convince my parents (spoiler alert: I did!). I was also fending off the opinions I received from people back at home, and I decided to turn a blind eye towards what was being said behind my back.
Challenging America’s “Best in the World” Mindset
In 2020, I realized that leaving the United States after high school was quite an unheard of idea, even more so within a community that resembles mine (a small town an hour outside of Philadelphia). We are taught that our country has anything we could ever want. We have beautiful nature, vibrant cities, various subcultures, and a whole lot of personality. What we are not taught is that other countries, despite most being smaller geographically than the US, have these characteristics too, and there are plenty of people and opportunities waiting for us in other pockets of the world.
“I spent my first year and a half of living in Milan, Italy “living the dream” and sharing it on social media for everyone at home to see... At some point, though, I cracked, and I suddenly deactivated my Instagram account along with deleting all social media apps at once.”
The Reality Behind “Living the Dream”
I spent my first year and a half of living in Milan, Italy “living the dream” and sharing it on social media for everyone at home to see. I had my Instagram feed in mind whenever I saw a beautiful sight in real life. At some point, though, I cracked, and I suddenly deactivated my Instagram account along with deleting all social media apps at once. The idea of people from home watching these curated scenes of my life began to unsettle me. After all, they always had plenty to say about what I was doing.
I hit a point where I no longer wanted to know what these people thought of what I was doing. In fact, I no longer wanted to give them the opportunity or space to even try. Thus, I said goodbye to social media for two years (but now I’m back @k8lincreswell). For two years, I had no idea what people from home thought, and quite frankly, I assume they stopped caring.
Global Education is the New Normal
No one knows better than you what is right for you. No one knows better what place will be the key to your heart better than your own heart. No one can make judgments as well as your own gut can.
Your journey of going to college in Europe is your own journey to embark on. It is a very significant and special step of life, this is undeniable, but it is not the craziest choice anyone has ever made. Education is quite globalized already, and you are just now deciding to take part in that (you probably already have in some ways you don’t even realize)! You are not weird, crazy, or making a mistake. Your story is yours and yours alone to write.
People may cause friction in your life upon your decision to go to college abroad, heck, even when you just begin considering this option! Keep in mind that this may almost always be a result of our beloved American education system and/or their own personal beliefs and projections.
In my life, the process of coming home from Italy and of explaining my story to doctors, coworkers, and extended family became normal. I began to normalize getting a degree abroad on a microscopic level (because, I mean, if people want to look at my choices under a microscope, it’s time to turn the tables on them)!
You’re Not Alone: Support for Your Journey Abroad
In reality, going to college abroad is a normal and valid path to take, just as much as if you went to college in the US, or a trade school, or a gap year, etc. Getting a degree abroad is a feasible option that is reasonable for you to consider. And hey, that’s why we’re building Skola! We want college abroad to be a part of the initial conversation when considering your higher education options! We want to normalize this path!
If you’re having trouble with receiving backlash from people in your life for your wish to pursue your degree abroad, feel free to book a consultation with us to dive deeper into what’s going on. I truly wish you the best in whatever stage of this journey you are in!
