Traveling abroad can change the way students view both the world and their own communities, according to an organizer of the upcoming Thailand study abroad experience through Kellogg Community College and several well-traveled sources.
KCC is participating in a short-term study abroad program focused on environmental conservation, tourism, and cultural immersion. Although registration for the upcoming trip has closed, the main organizer says the program highlights the growing importance of international experiences for college students.
Michelle Wright, coordinator of the program, said the experience is designed primarily for
students, though additional seats may be offered to others in the community if space is available.
“The experience is open to students first and then faculty, staff, and community members if seats are available,” Wright said.
The program emphasizes conservation and sustainability in Thailand, where tourism plays a
major role in the economy, while natural ecosystems remain fragile.
“Conservation and environmentalism in Thailand will help students become stewards overseeing the delicate balance between tourism and conservation, between conservationists and activism, and between responsibility and advocacy,” Wright said.
Wright also mentioned that the experience is intended to help students see how global issues connect across cultures and countries.
“I believe the biggest takeaway will be the knowledge that the world is not as large as they think,” Wright said. “People half a world away are concerned with many of the same things that they are.” She added that global experiences are increasingly critical in modern education.
“It’s important for students in today’s world to immerse themselves in other cultures as much as possible,” Wright said. “It’s not just about environment and sustainability but about cooperation and collaboration. If they hope to make a difference, this experience will be incredibly important throughout their professional and personal lives.”
Others who have traveled internationally say those experiences can change personal perspectives as well as professional outlooks. Michael Westphal, a project manager based in Colorado who has traveled extensively for work, said visiting other countries taught him lessons in humanity
“My years traveling to Mexico and Europe for work or vacation taught me humility and
empathy,” Westphal said.
“You quickly realize how simple acts of kindness can go a long way when you are in the minority, whether it’s language or appearance.”
Westphal said traveling also revealed things that many Americans take for granted.
“Some of the warmest, hardest working and most hospitable people I have ever met bus
to work from great distances from homes with no running water, frequent power outages
and limited access to education,” he said. “Witnessing disparities between the haves and
have-nots makes you appreciate access to clean water, electricity, healthcare, education,
and safe communities.”
Students who have studied or lived abroad say those experiences can broaden perspectives on everyday ways as well.
Emily Auble, a transfer student based in Cape Coral, Fla., who visited Japan in an exchange
program, said traveling internationally helps people better understand both other cultures and their own.
“It gives perspective on our own home country,” Auble said. “It broadens food tastes as
well as tolerance toward others. If you don’t speak the language very well and travel
there, it’s very humbling.”
Programs like the Thailand trip aim to contribute those cultural experiences with academic
learning, allowing students to observe environmental challenges, tourism impacts, and
conservation efforts firsthand.
For many students, study abroad experiences can also encourage independence and adaptability, skills that are increasingly valuable in global workplaces. Wright said the goal is to help students understand that global challenges require cooperation beyond national borders.
By experiencing other cultures directly, students can better understand how communities around the world address issues such as sustainability, environmental protection, and economic development. Although not every student has the opportunity to travel internationally, educators say exposure to other cultures remains an important part of preparing students for an interconnected world.
