Your next destination could be the beginning of your future

The feeling of boarding an airplane for the first time is unforgettable. But, experiencing this moment alone, being far from family, friends, and everything that sounds familiar is even more memorable. At first, this challenge may seem intimidating, but it is precisely by stepping into the unknown that the greatest opportunities for growth, learning, and self-discovery emerge.

More than simply traveling, international experiences are opportunities to live, study, or work in another country, fostering academic, professional, cultural, and personal development through exposure to different languages, cultures, and educational systems. In this article, you will discover how studying or participating in an international experience helps develop your confidence, opens up opportunities to make new friends all around the world, improves your English speaking skills, and prepares you for the future. 

International Experiences as a Stepping Stone

International experiences go far beyond tourism: they provide opportunities for interaction, learning, and independence, allowing us to develop a broader understanding of both the world and ourselves. By experiencing new cultures, languages, and ways of thinking, we expand our perspectives, strengthen our self-confidence, and learn how to adapt to new environments. 

It is important to remember that not everything will go as planned. Living in a new country means facing challenges and unexpected situations that are part of the adaptation process. We may mispronounce certain words, find some customs unfamiliar, discover that we do not enjoy every local dish, or feel homesick. 

Sometimes the easiest daily tasks become complex simply because we are in a new environment. However, these experiences should not be considered failures, but rather opportunities for growth and learning. It is precisely through unusual moments that we develop resilience, adaptability, independence, and confidence.

Small moments that create big changes

Personal growth is not always the result of extraordinary events; more often, it is built through everyday experiences. Giving a presentation in English for the first time, talking to people from different nationalities, solving a problem independently, or discovering the traditions and customs of another culture are all moments that leave lasting lessons.

These interactions contribute to the development of the 4Cs of 21st-century learning communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity skills that are considered essential for helping future generations navigate the challenges of the modern world and the workplace.

• Creativity: creating a new solution when the original plan does not work.

• Critical Thinking: comparing different sources of information before deciding which one to trust.

• Communication: presenting an idea to a group and adapting your explanation when people do not understand it.

• Collaboration: working in a team, dividing tasks, and combining everyone’s ideas to complete a project.

Together, these small experiences build confidence, independence, and resilience, demonstrating that the true impact of an international experience lies not only in the places we visit but also in the lessons and skills that stay with us throughout our lives. 

Creating Lifelong Connections

Experiencing it firsthand

These moments of growth may look different for every student. For some, it can be finding the confidence to speak English in front of others; for others, it can be making friends in an unfamiliar environment, learning to navigate cultural differences, or simply becoming more comfortable outside their usual surroundings.

For Renata and Luísa, former participants of the British English Olympics (BEO), these lessons became part of their own experience.

Renata, an 18-year-old Mexican student and current BEO World Ambassador, recalls that one of her greatest challenges during the programme was finding her place within a large team where many participants had already formed their own groups. Stepping outside her comfort zone and connecting with students from different schools and countries eventually led her to build international friendships that became an important part of her experience.

One moment she particularly remembers happened after one of the programme’s social activities, when she taught a traditional Mexican dance to students from several countries. What started as a simple interaction became an opportunity to share a piece of her own culture while connecting with others. For Renata, experiences like this helped her become more open to different cultures while also appreciating her own.

For Luísa, a Brazilian student and former BEO participant, the challenge looked different. She initially felt insecure about expressing herself in English, particularly when she had to improvise or present her own ideas. As the programme progressed, she realized that many students around her shared similar insecurities and that communicating was less about speaking perfectly and more about having the confidence to participate and be herself. She also recalls how meeting fellow Brazilians while abroad unexpectedly gave her a new appreciation for her own culture.

Their experiences show how the skills developed through international education often come from very ordinary moments: starting a conversation, sharing something about your culture, speaking even when you are unsure, or choosing to connect with someone new. These are the experiences that gradually build the confidence, independence and intercultural awareness students can carry with them long after returning home.

Preparing Students for a Global Future

The future belongs to people who can adapt, communicate, and work across cultures. International experiences help young people become confident global citizens who are ready to contribute in universities, workplaces, and communities around the world.

They return home with greater independence, stronger communication skills, and a deeper understanding of themselves and others.