During the Italian Renaissance, philosophers and scholars aspired to hold in their minds the totality of human learning. Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, a member of Lorenzo de Medici’s famous Plato Academy, read and wrote in 22 languages. “His intellectual concept was the unity of knowledge; his ambition, to reconcile all religions and philosophies since the beginning of time,” author Irving Stone said in The Agony and the Ecstacy: A Biographical Novel of Michelangelo.

What an ambition. If everyone were committed to finding such reconciliation, imagine the potential peace and prosperity. There is something romantic about education, about the tradition of philosophical inquiry exemplified by the Plato Academy, and there is something exotic in the intercultural examinations of Pico della Mirandola. I like the idea of gaining worldly understanding from other people.

Higher education is a valued privilege, but lately I haven’t felt very excited about my studies. Sure, I read my textbooks and show up for classes, but at times I feel my life sinking into the urban underpinnings of College Park, with its cheap food and grungy atmosphere. That foul, wafting smell from Wawa tops it all off.

What happened to the days when college students were more interested in enlightening themselves than finding the best kegger? Higher education used to stand for something far more inspiring. What has always remained true, though, is college students still search for their place in the world.

What better way to understand the world than to see more of it? The Study Abroad Office at this university offers opportunities to do that. While studying abroad, “students are uniquely positioned to meet the world with open arms and an open mind as they learn about academic subjects and their own character in unpredictable and life-changing ways,” said International Studies Director Michael Ulrich.

So I plan to salute Testudo, pack my bags, and ship out. I haven’t decided on a program or destination, but I’ve managed to pull together some thoughts and, for the first time, see a path through the paperwork.

It all seemed to make sense after I sat through a short and informative general advising session that outlined what it means to study abroad and how students can prepare themselves. The Study Abroad Office, located in the Mitchell Building, brims with pamphlets, books and other useful sources of information. Studying abroad for a semester can cost less than a semester at the university. Shorter programs are available in the winter and summer.

In the post-Sept. 11, 2001, world, our cultural values help shape our political resolve. A lot of the international scrutiny the United States receives can be attributed to the perceived American condescension for other cultures’ values. Wouldn’t it be nice to go out into the world and show you are willing to learn about another culture, to show you are an American who is conscious of cultural equality? Studying abroad allows you to do this.

If you are not sure about leaving the country for an extended period of time, there are alternatives, such as Global Communities, a two-year living-learning program in which accepted students live on the campus and enroll in a one-credit colloquium each semester. Applications are due March 17.

Students who complete the program receive a Global Communities notation on their transcript, according to the program’s website. Global Communities and the Study Abroad Office offer experiences that help prepare students for the dynamic world market.

Pico della Mirandola was on to something. The more you experience, the more you understand. As an American caught between love for and disgust in my country, I think the best thing for me would be to step into another system for a while. I need to broaden my horizons, and so do many other American students. Do some research and put in the effort. Studying abroad could be the best thing you ever do for yourself.

Kevin Rector is a sophomore letters and sciences major. He can be reached at krector@umd.edu.