Coming into this school year, I had been on campus for the past
three years, going to class and running through the daily routine
of college life. College is a great time, and I’m in no real hurry
to graduate, but I was missing something — a taste of the real
world (or closer to it).

I have spent this past semester interning at the White House in
Washington, D.C. This has been the most exciting and incredible
experience of my life. I will never forget the people I have met,
the work I have done or the talented people I work with at the
White House.

Taking a semester off to go out and get a glimpse of the world
that surrounds Madison has allowed me to get a better perspective
of what is in the future and what I want out of life.

Friends have studied throughout Europe and the world, raving of
their experiences, the people they met and the benefit of seeing a
diversity of ideas and perspectives. Every last bit of that is
true. You get a new perspective on people, friends, Madison and
yourself.

Madison is a beautiful city, safe and a good place to live. But
there is more out there to see, experience and enjoy. Living in
Madison is like living in a bubble.

While Washington, D.C., isn’t reality either, at least here
people come from all over the country. People from Texas do not see
things the same way as people do from Wisconsin or California.

College is the best opportunity to see the world and try
something different. After college, commitments such as family and
a job get in the way — in college, taking a semester off is easy.
Abroad programs are usually only a little more expensive than a
semester’s tuition, and many internships will not allow you to wait
until after college, because they require you to receive college
credit to be accepted.

Some campus “leaders” speak about the need for diversity in
order to receive a high quality college education. What they really
mean is diversity in skin color. This is wrong.

What is needed, and lacking, is a diversity of ideas and
opportunities. Diversity in skin color alone is not beneficial; a
campus with people that are diverse in backgrounds and life
experiences makes for a higher quality of education.

Going out and experiencing life and seeing more than just the
upper Midwest gives a person a better understanding of people and
an opportunity to learn from people that are from all over the
country and world.

College is about taking risks and taking advantage of
opportunities. Going to Mexico for spring break, even once, is an
example of going out, experiencing a new scene and doing something
new.

Too many of us get caught up in one or two things. For some
people, it is homework or class. For others, it may be student
government or drinking. The point is that too much of anything
means the loss of other great opportunities

Taking a semester off to see more of the world will give you a
new perspective on life. It will refresh you and make Madison a
little more interesting after being away. Go out, see the world,
meet new people and take advantage of every chance that comes your
way. We are only young and in college once.

Matt Modell ([email protected]) is a senior majoring
in journalism and political science. He is in Washington,
D.C., this semester for an internship.