Getting involved in your school during study abroad is the best thing you can do while. It doesn’t matter if it means you get a job, join a society, or find a volunteer opportunity. It’s just important that you find something. This is true even if you aren’t abroad but it’s easier when abroad. Getting involved in your University helps you make lasting relationships not only with local students but other international students as well. It’s also a great way to learn about your host country and feel more at home.
I recently acquired a job as a Student Ambassador. It’s the best decision I could have made. I get to make some money while I’m here and to work with some great projects such as Reaching Wider. Reaching Wider is a campaign to inform kids about Higher Education. The other day I got to work with a group of 13 year olds talking about what they knew about University and helping them to learn more. A couple of weeks before that I worked with 10 year olds in Pembroke Dock making a documentary about their town; what they liked and didn’t like, what they wanted to change about it. The documentary, along with others that were made through the year, will be shown to the officials of the county in 2014.
Through this work I’ve made a few local friends I wouldn’t have met any other way. I’ve also learnt so much about Wales and its education system. Every time we do a new project I have questions about how the system works. What are A-levels? What ways can they get to university? These are questions I usually wouldn’t have answered or maybe even come up with in any other situation.
I also became an International Buddy. It’s a volunteer opportunity with the international office. If you’re worried about really throwing yourself out there or you can’t work on your student visa, see if there’s something at the international office that you can do! The international buddy system is a great system to be part of. Here, I will be going with the free shuttle pick up next semester to get the new International students. So, before I have new people moving in to the flat I get to meet them. You get to be a support system for people who are going through exactly what you’ve gone through. Who better for the job but someone in the same position? We also have cultural trips around Wales for international students. As an International Buddy, we go on those trips for free. Bonus!
There’s nothing better than meeting new people in a new place. If work or volunteering is not your forte, there are always school clubs. Most universities have a huge array of clubs and societies. There are sports teams, religious societies, hobby clubs and so much more. You can even start your own. It’s a quick and easy way to meet people with the same interests as you so you can start making lasting connections.
Get involved in your school as quickly as possible and you’ll be guaranteed to meet new people, make a few friends, and maybe even make some cash along the way. I can’t recommend this enough especially if you’re shy like me. It may push you out of your comfort zone, but hey that’s what this semester or year is for, isn’t it? Push your limits, get out of that comfort zone and do new things!