What for?
The first question that my parents asked me when they learned that I was going to study to the United States was what for. They never travelled so far and had a very vague idea about living abroad. Of course, my personal statement had comprehensive answers to this but… Each challenge on the way to the USA starting from a selection process to the passport control on the Ukrainian border just made me repeat this question to myself – what are you going there for?
There have been other things that discouraged me in a way. One of them was a long time span between my previous education and my studies in the USA. I have received my Bachelor’s degree back in Uzbekistan in 2001 and I studied another year in Ukraine in 2009. Will I be able to accomplish the workload? Well, this one is easy, I thought, just need to work hard. What for? After all, there are employment opportunities for those without a Master’s degree.
My friend said that I could have built a better future for my home country staying in it, not leaving it for two years. Can that be true? Nobody knows what their lives would be if they chose a different direction. Nobody knows if life in my home country changes because of me studying here.
What do you think?
Bakhtilie
I share your feeling. The "what for" question for a long time. I have lucky that my parents were happy knowing that I will start this journey, but I haven´t been sure if my decision is the correct. Being away for so many years (5 o maybe more in my case) could be unproductive?. But as you said, maybe we will never know. At least, I am sure that I will be able to apply all the things I will learn for making some change in my country. Maybe the change won´t be extraordinary but at least would be my contribution to the wellbeing of my people and its natural environment.
ReplyDeleteBeing in the Fulbright program is a previledge to many people because it's a very competitive scholarship. This means those grantees are somehow guranteed that they're competent enough to be in this program. So, when going back to work, this experience can automatically opens up doors, the ones that won't open for others, for us. Still, some doors might close due to a certain reason.
ReplyDeletePlus, being in different places also opens your own perspective to the world. For example, if you worked in a social development field, going to another country to experience similar social problems that your country has might allow you to experience another practice or best practice that could have been used or adopted to tackle the problem back home. In other wrods, you have a sharper sword.
Besides those two things, there are also networking opportunities, access to information and resources, and many more. Having fun should be a part of it.
At least, this is what I think the FB program might give me. :)
I totally agree with Ker and I might add that sometimes we need to take 2 step back in order to jump further.
ReplyDelete