![Reaching out. Christopher Lesh, student at Central Catholic High School, serves ice cream during the event on March 2, 2025, at the Portland waterfront. Central Catholic was just one of the schools that sent student volunteers out to cook, prepare, dish, and serve food. Interact club’s co-president Rachel Gerber, junior, plated the food during the event. “I like how direct the contact is,” Gerber said. “You’re there [and] you’re just doing something good. It’s simple, it’s easy, you can feel good about it.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/interact-1-edited-1200x744.jpg)
![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-1200x900.jpg)
Every year as students start to think about and apply for colleges, they are faced with a decision regarding how far they will go. Statistically speaking, most U.S. students go approximately 100 miles from their hometown. The exception is study abroad programs.
Although some programs may vary, every continent offers study abroad programs or full-time education for international students. This means that it is possible to spend four years of learning surrounded by penguins in Antarctica or to visit historical landmarks on your weekends in Europe.
Studying abroad is different from what students may have previously experienced, but there are also many advantages to taking that leap. Colleges in other parts of the world can be significantly cheaper than colleges in the U.S.
For example, many colleges that are a part of the European Union (EU) offer free tuition to international students depending on grade point average and application. On top of that, studying abroad offers the opportunity to meet people from other cultures, meaning that you can broaden your social network and learn more about the world from others.
On the other hand, studying abroad can come with unforeseen challenges that students who go to a school in the U.S. may not have to overcome. For instance, visas, health care, living expenses, and knowing the language are all speed bumps in the journey of learning in a different country. Similarly, while some programs can be less expensive, some are quite expensive, and if you do not have a work visa, you will not be allowed to work in most places, meaning that it can be harder to afford the cost of living. For more information about specific programs and offers, check out GO Overseas.
