Southeast to host Study Abroad Fair

The Study Abroad Fair, sponsored by International Education Services, will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, in the lobby area of the University Center at Southeast Missouri State University.

The departments that are involved with study abroad are invited to come to the fair and make students aware that the study abroad program is available to them, regardless of which area of study they are involved in.

“By talking to individual faculty members, I think students will get a better idea,” Dr. Shu-Chuan Wang-McGrath, instructor of global cultures and languages, said.

Representatives from Financial Aid Services are also invited to attend the fair so students can ask questions about how to finance the study abroad trips.

“This time we invited Financial Aid to come so students can explore their opportunities through them,” Wang-McGrath said.

Wang-McGrath said students may worry about the financial side of studying abroad, but once they realize how simple it is, they will be more inclined to get involved.

“Once they know it’s that simple — they will go,” Wang-McGrath said.

Wang-McGrath said studying abroad is something students should take advantage of while they are in college because they may not find the time to travel once they are out in the real world.

“I always encourage my students, study abroad is something you should do while you are in college,” Wang-McGrath said.

Studying abroad is something students can include on their resumes and can be beneficial in landing jobs after college, according to Wang-McGrath.

“It’s a plus to have study abroad experience on your resume,” Wang-McGrath said. “Employers are looking for global persons to work for them; they don’t want someone who is narrow-minded.”

Wang-McGrath said traveling to a new place may seem intimidating to some students, so getting the chance to talk to people who have done it may help put some of those fears to rest.

“Being afraid of going somewhere else, too, so talking to those who have done that and been there can help them and let them know it’s not that scary,” Wang-McGrath said.

Wang-McGrath said it’s important to have students from different backgrounds interacting with each other.

“With so many international students coming to internationalize this campus, we need to send our students out to internationalize other countries, too,” Wang-McGrath said.

Studying abroad helps students become more open-minded and gives them a chance to see things from a new perspective, according to Wang-McGrath.

“[It’s] not only fun but it will really change you as a person, your identity and your perspectives of the world will all be changed — when you return to the states you are not who you were before,” Wang-McGrath said.

The fair is open to students and faculty.