The sun was setting quickly, panic was setting in, and the buildings around me were becoming less and less familiar as I suddenly realized I was lost. 

I had been in Cusco, Peru, for less than four days and already managed to get on the wrong bus coming home from school. By the time the bus stopped and I was told to get off, it was dark outside and I was in the middle of nowhere. 

I did not have too many options so I quickly began using the limited Spanish I knew at the time and finally grabbed a taxi to take me back to my host home. 

I graduate in May so I have done quite a bit of reflecting on my time in college these past few weeks. And although this moment was terrifying at first, it still remains a distinct moment in my undergraduate experience. 

You see, in this moment, and so many others while studying abroad, I learned what I was made of and the importance of having confidence while engaging with others in unfamiliar environments. 

Now, I am by no means advocating that you head off to a foreign country and hop on a bus headed opposite of your home, but I am advocating studying abroad as one of the most beneficial experiences one could have while receiving their undergraduate degree. 

The Institute of International Education reports that only 1 in 10 undergraduates will study abroad before receiving their degree. Although this number has more than doubled in this past 15 years, it is not nearly high enough. 

Especially when considering the current resentment toward certain beliefs, races and ethnicities in society, gaining a global perspective is more important now than ever before. 

While studying abroad, you are consistently exposed to other cultures and practices up close. These in depth looks at how others live garners your respect and works to break down certain preconceptions. 

A certain preconception that fell as a result of my time in Peru was this idea of “American exceptionalism” or the desire to “Westernize” other countries. 

The program I studied with required both coursework and volunteer assignments, so I spent my mornings volunteering at a home for victims of human trafficking. 

I marched in there on the first day eager to help these girls and pull from my experiences with all those one-week long church mission trips I had participated in while in high school. 

Instead of being welcomed with open arms, however, these girls had little concern that an American had showed up to their rooms and wanted only to know if this meant there would be an extra set of hands to help with day to day chores. 

I quickly learned the value of sitting quietly and learning before being too quick to rush and teach. My time in that girls’ home taught me not to confuse cultural differences with differences between the right way and wrong way. 

Not only did I garner a newfound appreciation for other cultures and beliefs, but I had the opportunity to expand and hone in on my foreign language skills. 

Freakonomics reported in 2014 that only one percent of adults in the United States are proficient in a foreign language they studied in school. When compared to other countries, the United States’ lag in the area of foreign language is even more apparent.

The Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, stated in 2010 that only 18 percent of Americans could speak a second language as opposed to 53 percent of Europeans who can converse in other languages. 

The lack of foreign language skills amongst U.S. citizens often strips many of a competitive advantage in the workplace. Spending time in another country allows for students to gain a more comprehensive experience in foreign language. 

In addition to a global perspective and foreign language skills, studying abroad equips individuals with the confidence required to accomplish a wide range of tasks. 

This fall I am moving back to South America to teach and because of my time abroad as an undergraduate, I am all the more confident of my ability to live in a foreign environment. 

Without this experience, I am certain my plans following college would look very different. Studying abroad has been one of the most rewarding and fun experiences during my time in college and I urge any student still undecided about summer plans to consider visiting MSU’s study abroad office. 

Your experience in classrooms abroad will forever transform the way you consider issues both upon your return to American classrooms, and long after you leave the university’s halls.