While passing by Pullen Hall, my eyes always get stuck on the Study Abroad banners reading “GET OUTTA HERE.”

I was wondering how many students go abroad for higher education and why they do it.

A Technician article stated: “more than 4,000 students study abroad through [American International Foreign Studies] each year. Students are offered internships, travel opportunities, summer and semester study programs.” Not only this, but every year, many students come to the U.S. from different parts of the world hoping and dreaming that they will find more opportunities over here in comparison to their own countries.

Being an international student, I also believe that going abroad to seek higher education is always beneficial because you are equipped with the latest knowledge and trends in your particular field.

But my question is whether one should stay there if there are better job opportunities or return back to serve his or her own nation.

Rachael Wussow, a senior in international studies, is studying in Granada, Spain, at the Center for Modern Languages. She said studying abroad is all about gaining a new perspective.

“Students can examine what makes up their own culture and appreciate what has contributed to developing them this way,” she said. “Learning how to communicate with people from other cultures is a growing necessity as the world becomes increasingly interconnected.”

As for my question, she said it all depends on the reasons.

“Family, location, etc. need to be taken into account,” she said. “The skills learned abroad would be valuable in both environments.”

Savera Tanwir, a graduate student in computer science from Pakistan, highlighted the need for going back to one’s own country after pursuing higher education.

“Students should return home and work for the betterment of their institutions to make their economy stronger and country prosper,” he said. “It’s not a good idea to remain here forever as it is a brain drain to your country, and that is one of the reason my country is still backwards. People come to study here and than don’t go back and benefit their country.”

On the other hand, there are students like Jessica Jia, a graduate student in business administration from Shanghai, China, and Ege Hurgel, a graduate student in operations research from Istanbul, Turkey, who state that international students should experience working in a foreign country for at least a year or two before going back to their countries.

Personally, I feel that gaining an overseas education is always beneficial if one has chosen the right place to study in his or her particular field. For example, the United States is the right choice for business administration and the United Kingdom for media arts and so on. The list is never ending as each place exudes its own brilliance in distinct forms; thus one is always acquainted with the latest and up-to-date education.

Betterment of a society or country doesn’t happen overnight, nor is it upon a certain individual to make it happen. The society changes when the mentality changes.

Society includes all individuals, and it is these individuals that bring about change. To use your education toward the development of one’s own country or society should be the common motto, and I believe that would more than substantiate my reason to return to your roots.

A house constitutes mortar and bricks, but home is somewhere the heart lies — for the people we love, for the things we care about.

No matter how far away we are, no matter how long we might stay apart, the saying “home is where my heart is” holds true.