Why Cultural Exchange is Important for Students?

Why Cultural Exchange 

is Important for Students ?

Global understanding, today, has become an extremely important part of a person’s wholesome development into global citizenship. And while exploring and learning about the cultures of others, you tend to discover new aspects of yourself.

Since the beginning, I have had a keen interest in people and have always aspired to experience and explore other cultures, and simultaneously learn and contribute as much as possible. Be it in school or in college, I always participated in events that promoted community welfare and cross-culture experience ignoring all prejudices of caste, creed, class or color. During my college days, I was an active member of ‘Alliance’, the students’ welfare committee and participated in various student exchange programs and cultural events. 

While exploring and learning about the cultures of others, you tend to discover new aspects of yourself.

By learning new cultures at a young age, you get to learn the skills and cultural acceptance that prepare you to become a more mature individual. When you experience a different culture through various cultural exchange activities, you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and those around you—deepening your knowledge of foreign cultures and strengthening global understanding. 

"Culture is this thing that we can exchange among ourselves as human beings to knock aside our differences and build upon our similarities. Cultural exchange is the ultimate exchange." - Chuck D

Global understanding, today, has become an extremely important part of a person’s wholesome development into global citizenship. Learning new cultures can be a very exciting, fun, and enlightening experience. Try to experience building new friendships, taking responsibility for yourself, respecting differences and tolerating the beliefs of others. And while exploring and learning about the cultures of others, you tend to discover new aspects of yourself.

Learning new cultures can be a very exciting, fun, and enlightening experience.

There are also several other benefits that come along with cultural exchange experience,

• Self-development and awareness leading to enhanced self-confidence and self-esteem. 
• Integration into another family as well as the development of life-long friendships, fostering an appreciation of home and family. 
• A tremendous sense of accomplishment upon completion encourages students to develop independent opinions, make informed decisions and strive to attain fresh goals. 
• Prospective employers in almost every field look favorably upon experience gained while living overseas and knowledge obtained of another language and culture. 
• Successful program completion represents an excellent measure of personal flexibility, encompassing an ability to reach compromise, focus and succeed through challenging times.

Prospective employers in almost every field look favorably upon experience gained while living overseas
and knowledge obtained of another language and culture.

As a final advice, I would strongly suggest the following, 

"Become friends with people who aren’t your age. Hang out with people whose first language isn’t the same as yours. Get to know someone who doesn’t come from your social class or culture. This is how you see the world. This is how you grow."

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*If you like this blog post and wish to share your experiences/ remarks/ views with me, you are most welcome to write to me at pdpbygauravmisra@gmail.com. Thanks!