Although it can be one of the most painful decisions of sending your children to pursue higher studies from abroad but at the same time, it is an amazing opportunity and adventure for both you and your child as it will help them to know more about the world and themselves apart from the normal classroom training.
Moreover, parents should be prepared for all the lows and highs which they and their children might come across through their journey while pursuing higher studies from abroad.
Pursuing studies in abroad is an opportunity which will leave a strong impact all their lives which will be beyond career and academics as it will widen their horizon to understand the hurdles of lives more accurately, creating an open mindset to understand day to day obstacles, various cultures, different experiences and creating global friendships.
Moving ahead, there are several advantages of pursuing studies abroad but it comes with a lot of risks and nervousness that are experienced by parents throughout the duration till their children are in the new country.
But however, looking on the positive aspect, it is extremely important to understand that study abroad is quite beneficial for your child’s development and it helps students to come with better solutions to all the obstacles they might face in their career in the near future.
Besides, when you have all the necessary information about which country to choose, the university and about the program then you are more likely to feel comfortable with the idea of study abroad. This will help parents to stand as a strong support system for their children on this life-changing experience.
In today’s world, when it is extremely convenient to stay connected with each other through various means, pursuing studies in abroad provide aspirants a better opportunity to acquire skills that will not only benefit them professionally, but also personally.
As parents if you are anxious of allowing your children to go abroad then it is always advisable to look on the brighter side and the positive factors that your children might get to experience throughout their duration of program and they will emerge as an extremely confident individual all their lives.
Educating real-life skills that are different from traditional learning: In today’s world, the two skills that the professional career need are cultural awareness and second language proficiency. So, study abroad provide aspirants with both the skills which can prepare them in today’s competitive job market.
Proficiency in a second language: Staying in another country means experiencing a new language, how it is actually spoken for example, the local idioms and dialects, the facial expressions and the body language that a language book cannot teach. Learning German for a few hours a week at home will not give the same results as would living in Germany for a semester. Complete involvement is the way to language fluency.
Creating Connections and Global Friendships: The best part about pursuing studies abroad is that it leads to global friendships and new connections. Moreover, some of these friendships continue even after students return home. Global friendships provide an exciting international experience for both host families and foreign students and teachers who are from the same field which can greatly widen their global, professional network.
Builds Confidence and Independence: Figuring out a new subway system, adapting to new culture shock and trying bizarre foods are all part of the experience. Moving ahead, aspirants return to their country with a much more developed self-confidence with regards to their capabilities towards problem solving and adapting new challenges in life.
Factors to keep in Mind in order to Prepare Well for your Child’s Safer Stay in Abroad:
Be aware of the time zone of the new country and connectivity issues especially if your children are travelling to a developing nation.
Always fix a schedule and ensure that it works for both you and your child. Initially in the beginning they may not set a schedule for the first couple of weeks so try to be flexible. But however, make sure that you don’t go too long without having a word from them. Life in abroad is full of new experiences and children often get too busy with their new lives which parents should understand.
Parents should be aware about who their children’s room mates are and all about their family background. This will help them know more about their children’s new company and new friends in a foreign country.
Parents are also advised to develop a great rapport with their children’s room mates as during emergency in case their child is not calling or not answering a call, they can often call their friends.
Parents are advised to take a keen interest about their child’s post-trip academic requirements, in case they want to proceed further studies.
Moving ahead, be aware of the reverse culture shock, which is basically the feeling of coming back to your motherland and realizing that you cannot adjust in your home country anymore after adapting the new culture.
It is advisable for parents to keep patience with their children’s urge of using foreign slang or the new culture they have adapted. Also, parents should understand if their children want to travel again soon after they are back from their study destination.
Apart from all this, be inquisitive about their stay in the new country and ask them questions. Although your children might hesitate to share every detail with you but they be grateful forever that you supported them through the most important journey of their lives.
Moreover, without parent’s support children will get de-motivated and they might loose confidence. So, it is completely on the parent’s way of handling things appropriately when their child is away to a new country for pursuing studies and making a career.
Apart from this, parents and children both need to manage it well and deal with the hurdles that come their way effectively and confidently.
