It’s no surprise that Nelson Mandela, one of our world’s greatest global leaders, said some pretty inspiring things throughout the course of his lifetime. But, did you know that some of these quotes can be directly applied to studying abroad?

“There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” Or in study abroad terms, there is nothing like a healthy dose of culture shock to turn your whole world upside down!

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Studying abroad isn’t about getting a traditional education in a classroom environment. It’s about gaining valuable real-life worldviews, a deep cross-cultural understanding, and the kind of global leadership skills you just can’t get in a classroom — all vital tools for changing the world. Something tells us Nelson Mandela would agree…

“I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days.” There is no better way to overcome stereotypes of any kind than by checking out firsthand how other people live. To paraphrase Mark Twain, travel is absolutely fatal to prejudice.

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” Successfully learning to speak another language isn’t just something to put on your resume — it’s a way to truly communicate with all kinds of new people that you wouldn’t have been able to connect with otherwise. And for that alone, studying abroad is worth it.