How Studying Abroad Builds Your Character

Making the leap to attend a university outside of your country can help you figure out who you are, where you’re going in life, as well as what you want to do for work or school.

Grow your personality

It's easy to think of personality as something set in stone... "I'm shy,” "I'm not a risk-taker," or "I don't like change.”

But in reality, personality is far more flexible than we often give it credit for. As humans, we’re capable of self-reflection, growth, and meaningful change, especially when we're placed in new and stimulating environments.

Studying abroad pushes you to grow in ways that staying home simply can't replicate. Immersing yourself in a different culture challenges you to rethink your assumptions, step into unfamiliar social settings, and communicate across cultural and language barriers.

You may find yourself becoming:

• More outgoing as you make new friends
• More empathetic as you understand different perspectives
• More assertive as you learn to advocate for yourself in unfamiliar systems

So, studying abroad provides a rare opportunity to actively shape the kind of person you want to become.

Explore the world around you

Some of the most powerful learning happens far beyond the classroom. Life experiences, especially those that challenge and inspire us, often leave the deepest and most lasting impressions.

Living in a different country offers countless opportunities to broaden your worldview. You’ll be immersed in the culture of your host nation, not just observing it from the sidelines but actively participating in it.

These experiences expand your perspective, deepen your appreciation for different ways of life, and help you develop a more global mindset.

You'll likely:

• Try foods you’ve never heard of
• Pick up phrases in a new language
• Discover new interests or hobbies you wouldn’t have encountered back home

In essence, studying abroad turns the world into your classroom—and the lessons you learn from everyday encounters can be just as transformative as anything taught in a lecture hall.

Punctuality and teamwork

Studying abroad is a great way to help you grow individually to prepare you for life after graduation when you enter the workforce.

For example, in Japan punctuality is an expectation, whereas it might not be in other parts of the world.

You'll also learn the importance of relying on others and working in a team to accomplish your goals. You're going to work with people who aren't from your country, and may have a different set of values or experiences.

Embrace the opportunity to learn from others.

Get out of your comfort zone

Over time, it's easy to settle into familiar routines: going to the same places, seeing the same people, and facing challenges you already know how to handle. While routines can provide a sense of stability, staying in your comfort zone for too long can limit personal growth.

Studying abroad disrupts this predictability. It throws you into a completely new environment:

• Language
• Culture
• Customs
• Academic expectations

Suddenly, you're navigating public transport in a foreign city, making friends from different backgrounds, or figuring out how to communicate without relying on your native language.

Unfamiliar experiences challenge you to think differently, solve problems creatively, and become more independent.

Stepping outside your comfort zone in this way builds resilience. You learn to adapt quickly, embrace uncertainty, and grow more confident in your ability to handle the unknown.

Gain independence

Even though going to university is a big step towards independence, you can take it to the next level by deciding to study abroad.

Generally, when you're in your new country, you won't know a lot of people right off the bat. You’ll need to navigate a new country, its laws, culture, and people, all without the safety of familiarity.

It's a sure fire way to help you gain critical independence skills.

Contribute to something bigger than yourself

It’s very easy for us to get wrapped up in the struggles of everyday life.

However, studying abroad can help you start thinking more about your contributions to society.

While going to school overseas, you can learn more about how you fit in and what you want to do with your life. You can have the opportunity to give back to others in a country not your own, and understand more of what it’s like to be a global citizen.

This will help you be more aware of where your skills and experiences will be best utilized when you return to your home country.

Conclusion

Choosing to study abroad isn't a decision to be made lightly. You're going to need to tap into your personal reserves to enhance your self-motivation, and you'll need to be ready to advocate for yourself.

Additionally, you may need to learn a new language, figure out your way through school in a new country, as well as establish a life there.

However, all of these experiences will help you continue to grow as a person, build your confidence in yourself, and help set you on a path to success.

Read more:

• Why Study Abroad? Here Are 10 Reasons to Study Abroad
• Student Story: Why I Want to Study Abroad
• Quiz: Should You Study Abroad?