Is this a good idea for such a young age?

Question

i want to study in brazil for a semester. i was born there so i have family there and they always ask me to go down there with them. So im 15 goin to be a junior, turnin 16 soon and in my senior yr im thinking about goin there for a couple of months to take classes. my parents says its fine but idkk if i'm going to be able to handle the distance from my parents at a young age, but i really want to see my family and have the experience. is this a good idea???

Answer 1

As a parent of a teenager who went abroad for a couple of months in her senior year, I say go for it.  It's a great opportunity, and, since you have family to stay with, you may not be as homesick as you think.  As far as the guilt of making your parents sad, trust me, this is not the same thing as going away to college.  When my daughter went abroad, I missed her, but it wasn't a really big deal.  When she went away to college, a major milestone and turning point in our relationship, it was a totally different thing--even though she didn't go very far.  Go.  Have a great time!

Answer 2

Thousands of high school students do an exchange every year! For the great majority, it's a wonderful experience! I will admit there are always some who fail, but mostly because they are unwilling to leave home behind and put themselves fully into the experience.

Actually, as a senior, you would not be that young. Many go at 14 (too young in my opinion). What is more important than age, however, is attitude. You MUST be willing to live IN Brazil and not be communicating with home all of the time. When you are there, you need to be there. So, make it clear to family and friends you will NOT be communicating on a daily, or even weekly, basis and you have won the biggest part of the battle.

If you have family, perhaps you will also have command of the language -- that will be a big asset. You will be able to fit in quicker!

This is a fantastic opportunity for you -- make sure you check with your counselor on transferring credit back so you can graduate on time, especially if you don't use a standard exchange organization.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I think it is great and I hope you get to go!