There is an increasing number of students deciding to study abroad for their high school years. In my opinion, although this trend displays some advantages, the drawbacks poses more significant risks in both individual and societal level.
The beneficial aspects of being oversea students are indeed various. Firstly, being in a new land, particularly in a multicultural countries, brings them great exposure to the diverse cultures, where they can interact and learn new viewpoints of people from different nations. This lays the foundation for an open-minded and empathetic mindset, fostering their awareness of having a multifaceted approach to problems. Secondly, the lectures are in foreign language, not only introducing them to the new theories that are hardly found in a domestic education system but also cultivating their language competence. Owning to these values, it is prominent to have an increasing job opportunity when graduates return to their motherland, especially positions that required new and specialized knowledge like rocket science or energy.
The disadvantages coming with this occurrence, however, are undeniably outweigh the bright sides. On an individual level, financial burdens may emerge due to the fact that many household have to take on huge loans or make sacrifices to support the living of their children abroad, affecting their own financial stability. For example, parents have to transmit money to pay for tuition fee, rent, and other living expense. This is particularly adverse when the currency exchange rate has large disparity, and for families with weak financial ability. On a societal level with things learned many opt for becoming residents of the host country for higher education, work or settling down, triggering the lack of employees for national company. The migration of educated individuals may take heavy toll on the workforce, contributing to the brain-drain phenomenon in the home land.
In conclusion, while studying abroad may offer unique advantages like having an open perception and higher job opportunity, the downsides by far surpass those with negative impact on financially unstable home and leading to the brain-drain phenomenon in the bigger picture.
