How Studying Abroad Inspired Me to Graduate High School Early
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This post was written by CIEE Global Navigator alum Amber W. who participated in one of our CIEE high school summer abroad programs.
High School Summer Abroad: A Life-Changing Experience
When I decided to study abroad in high school with CIEE, I didn’t realize I was signing up for a chain reaction of other life-changing decisions. At the time, it just felt like a chance to travel and learn something new. But what I thought would be a few exciting weeks in another country ended up pushing me to trust myself more, take control of my goals, and, eventually, graduate high school a year early.
1. Learning to Trust Myself
I studied abroad when I was just fourteen. It was the first big, unconventional step I had ever taken, and I didn’t know anyone else my age doing something like it. Leaving home was scary. I didn’t know what to expect or how I’d handle being somewhere completely new. But CIEE made it feel doable. With CIEE's support, I was in a new country with a new culture, meeting new people, and picking up language skills I never imagined having at fourteen.
2. Growing More Independent
But more than anything, I was growing. I learned to be independent and to make choices for myself. I came home changed because my perspective had shifted. I had a clearer sense of who I was and what I wanted. When I started my sophomore year of high school after going abroad, I felt like I was no longer growing. It felt wrong coasting through high school. I wanted to be intentional with my time. That’s when I first started thinking seriously about graduating early.
3. Making the Decision to Graduate High School Early
It wasn’t a common path at my school, and not everyone understood. People asked questions: “Won’t you miss senior year?” “Are you sure you’re ready?” “What’s the rush?” I’d already asked myself those questions and I knew my answers.
Studying abroad gave me the confidence to do what felt right, even if it looked different. I wasn’t rushing, instead, I was finally moving at my own pace. So I made a plan. I met with my counselor, figured out my credits, doubled up on a few classes, and stayed ahead. I kept thinking back to how confident and capable I’d felt while I was abroad, and I trusted that same version of myself to make this decision, too.
Graduating early turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made. After coming back from studying abroad, my school just didn’t feel the same anymore. I was ready for new challenges, more independence, and to grow in ways I couldn’t if I stayed simply because it was what everyone expected. Graduating early gave me the chance to focus on what actually fit where I was in life, both personally and academically.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be real or valid. It doesn’t have to follow the “normal” timeline. Sometimes the best decisions are the ones that feel a little scary and a little different. For me, studying abroad was the start of trusting myself to make those decisions with confidence.
If you're interested in studying abroad for a summer during high school, you can apply here or you can schedule a call with an Enrollment Coordinator to start planning.