5 Hidden Perks of Study Abroad You Never Considered

When colleges pitch study abroad to students, they usually focus on benefits like travel, employability, resume building, language skills or cultural awareness. These are valuable outcomes, but when students reflect on their experiences, they often talk about completely different benefits.

Students describe finding confidence and competency they didn’t know they had. They talk about learning to adapt when things don’t go according to plan or when their circumstances are unfamiliar. Often, students come home seeing the world and themselves in a different light.

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Hear from the real experts, our students, about the most meaningful parts of studying abroad. You might be interested to learn that the parts they value most are in many cases, unexpected benefits.

The Surprising Perks of Study Abroad

1. Study abroad builds competence through discomfort.

Based in London, Dekira Wilkerson studied with a cohort from different areas of the United States. An accounting major, she says one of her favorite courses challenged students to analyze the financial reports of TESCO (a multi-national grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in the UK). When she was not studying, she made the most of road trips to England, Scotland, Ireland, Belgium, France, Italy and Malta. But at first, she was a bit nervous about traveling.

“The thought of being solo in a foreign place was scary,” said Dekira. “But in the end, I found confidence in myself that will help me thrive in the future.”

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What helped her gain confidence? Looking back now, she says that studying abroad gave her a unique opportunity to embrace independence as she navigated unfamiliar cities. Beyond returning with memories and new friendships, she experienced evidence that she could withstand the discomfort of the unknown.

2. Study abroad enhances perspective-taking.

Analiese Wrye ’26, a recent graduate and RN, served local patients on an immersive study abroad experience in Kenya. She explains that coming face-to-face with a different culture made her more self-aware. Her reflection deepens the traditional take on learning about a culture and points to how experiencing other cultures can inform students of their assumptions, values and blind spots.

Analiese says, “We all learned how to better support people who are different from us and appreciate the things we take for granted. A lot of the experiences we had in the hospitals in Kenya will be applied in our future careers, improving our patient care in many ways.”

In other words, Analiese’s study abroad experience accelerated the realization that her singular view of the world was incomplete. By placing students in environments where they must question assumptions, consider unfamiliar perspectives and adapt in real time, they develop empathy, flexibility and the ability to function effectively in unfamiliar situations.

On coming home, Analiese volunteered with Nurses with Nyogaya, a foundation assisting Kenyan widows with education and housing. In widowhood, they lose everything, including their home. The organization now supports a full-time medical clinic that houses many of these women and children.

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3. Study abroad deepens professional development through flexibility.

Similar to Analiese, Sydney Summers ’26, an education alum, completed an immersive study abroad program in Ecuador. While in Ecuador, she engaged in the education system and developed her skills as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) teacher.

Like other students, Sydney expressed how much teaching in a different culture made her aware of how her own perspectives influence her teaching. She also learned to adapt, maturing her abilities as a teacher beyond something she could have experienced in the U.S.

Sydney explains, “Having the opportunity to teach in another country, see their methods and engage with diverse students prepares you for teaching in a way that nothing else can.”

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In short, studying abroad nurtured her flexibility, ultimately deepening her professional development. By practicing adaptability and resourcefulness in moments when problem-solving skills are necessary, Sydney articulated gave her teaching degree added value.

4. Study abroad teaches the ability to connect.

Isabela Hurtado ’26, a recent graduate who double majored in international business and business management, studied abroad in Spain and completed an internship in Costa Rica. Through the nonprofit, Amigos de Las Americas in Costa Rica, she oversaw the execution of 15 community service initiatives, supported 44 volunteers and tracked operations such as budgeting.

She says, “Living in an unfamiliar environment pushed me to grow both professionally and personally, but more than that, the bonds I formed and the support of the local community turned Costa Rica into a place I’ll always carry with me.”

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Macy Bennet ’26, who is now pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, had a similar experience on her semester abroad at Harlaxton College, one of Berry’s partner institutions, where she lived in a historic manor.

“This was my first time in Europe, and amidst all my travels, the manor became my favorite place,” says Macy. “The staff very quickly became a second family, and the friendships I built with fellow students formed lifelong bonds.”

Looking back at their opportunities, both Isabela and Macy could have listed dozens of Instagram-worthy sites they visited or described fantastic food. Instead, they both focused on the power of human connection.

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When students leave behind their normal support systems, they must learn to build trust, communicate across differences and create new communities. The ability to restart and to confidently build new relationships is an essential life skill that contributes to resilience and long-term well-being beyond college.

5. Study abroad leaves students with a greater sense of possibility.

Perhaps the most difficult benefit to measure is also one of the most impactful. Students come home with a renewed sense of what is possible for their future.

Zion Rome ’26, now a J.D. candidate at Belmont University, reflected on his study abroad experience in Morocco as a Berry student: “This trip forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and grow as an individual. To anyone who is thinking about studying abroad, I cannot recommend it enough, as it was a life-changing experience that I am forever grateful for.”

Experiences away from family and college can often help students reevaluate or see new career paths more clearly. They encounter other exciting lifestyles or learn about ways they don’t want to live. Beyond seeing incredible places, students return with a greater vision of what their lives can become.

A common denominator

Competence, perspective, flexibility, connection and possibility – what do they have in common? At first glance, these may seem like separate outcomes, but they describe a concept coined by youth mental health professionals and licensed counselors as “capability.”

Sissy Goff and David Thomas, two of the country’s leading voices on youth resilience, define it in their book, Capable. They observe that capable young people “have practiced coping and learned competence for life's challenges.” The signature characteristics of young people with high capability mirror the strengths garnered through study abroad experiences. It's not that the programs or experiences magically create these qualities in students, but study abroad provides repeated opportunities to practice them.

So, are you ready to strengthen your capability muscles? Come find the right study abroad experience for you. Whether you’re interested in diving in a coral reef or taking tea in a manor house, your opportunities for self-discovery and growth are endless.

Learn more about international experiences at Berry College

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