Searching for the good life
View(s):It is not uncommon that many students who study abroad wish to settle down in those respective countries in the hope of better jobs and to have careers they feel that they deserve. Being a student currently studying abroad, it is one of the regular questions I receive both by classmates as well as friends and family when I return home for holidays.
Although many people are surprised by my desire to return home after finishing my studies, such decisions made by young people in their twenties is something I have reflected upon constantly. What factors contribute towards the young generation’s decision to settle abroad or come back home? Many youngsters dream of a ‘better life’ overseas without knowing what that life would entail and sometimes only using the term “better” to mean all things different from the life they are use to. Yet I believe there is no ideal life. For any location comes with its own pros and cons which we must understand before making big decisions.
In other words, it’s not about where we choose to live, but how we deal with the challenges and more importantly, compromises that become a part of our decisions. A better life is a rather relative concept, and will mean different things to different individuals. Studying abroad and returning home to work will be extremely fulfilling if you enjoy what you do and accept the compromises you may have to make with regards to your earning potential and future prospects. At the same time, you would give back to society that nurtured you and created a home for you. Choosing not to return home requires the same kind of compromises, even though most of us are too quick to judge how happy we would be if we were somewhere else, anywhere but here.
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