It’s a well-known truth that the experiences we have in our youth are important in shaping the adult we become. New findings suggest that this is especially accurate for teenagers who have the opportunity to participate in educational travel.
A new study by the Wagner group, in cooperation with the U.S. Travel Association and TravelEffect.com, clearly demonstrates the positive impact that educational travel as a teenager has on future academic and financial success.
In the study, 400 consumers between the ages of 21-69 were surveyed regarding their travel experiences as youth, academic attitude and success, career path, and salary. The results compared the responses of those who had participated in educational travel (defined as any family or school trip at least 50 miles from home that focused on learning about the history or culture of the area) with those who had not.
Some important findings:
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Regardless of gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic class, students who took educational trips between the ages of 12-18 were more likely to be academically and financially successful.
-They were more likely to earn a college degree or do postgraduate work (57% vs. 31%)
-Their personal income was 12% higher ($41,100 compared to $36,700 annually) -
Travel improved academic success and influenced career choices.
-89% reported that educational travel had a positive impact on their education and/or career
-80% stated that educational travel made them more interested in what they were learning in school
-52% claimed their career choice was influenced by educational travel -
Children who took educational trips enjoyed school more and felt a greater connection to their world.
-86% said that educational travel made them more intellectually curious both in and out of the classroom
-77% reported that the local culture they experienced on their trip had a lasting impact
-90% found their educational trips fun, engaging and/or inspiring
For more study findings, click here.
Or, explore educational travel programs offered by Global Leadership Adventures here.
Gillian Gleizer says
This article puts travel abroad for teens in a numerical and statistical context. Traveling abroad of course is fun and interesting but it also teaches young adults about how to be global citizens. I love to travel and I feel as if I have learned more on my trips than anywhere else. Any moment can open your eyes and change your perspective completely. Traveling young helps people realize how much is out there in addition to making people realize how lucky they are. Personally abroad travel has taught me responsibility, communication, and leadership, in addition to giving me a larger understanding and respect for the world around me.
Mariana Gama says
Wow, what an interesting article! I will definitively be showing this to my friends who are unsure of traveling with GLA. I love how it shows the benefits of educational traveling as a young adult by putting it into quantitative data. GLA has definitely impacted me in similiar ways the statistics state above.
Samuel Ross says
Statistics really speak for themselves. Everyone always says how travel can make an individual a better person and I feel like teens are the most susceptible to this positive change. As a student who has gone on a trip I can definitely confirm that I, as a student, can definitely appreciate my education(especially foreign language classes) a whole lot more.