Traveling to another continent is an enriching experience, but it isn’t one that everybody is cut out for. Many students find traveling abroad to be a highlight of their lives. There is, however, another opportunity that is often overlooked. Students have the chance to seek out an adventure within the borders of our very own country with the National Student Exchange.

The National Student Exchange has offered students an alternative to studying abroad since 1968. Originally consisting of only three campuses exchanging seven students, the program has grown leaps and bounds, currently sending 3,000 students to 200 universities.

With 48 states, 3 U.S. territories and 6 Canadian provinces, there are plenty of options for those who wish to appreciate a more diverse area. Kelsie Hardison, ISU senior in liberal studies, felt fortunate to partake in this educational opportunity.

Hardison, a sophomore at the time, decided to venture to Oregon State in Corvallis for one semester. The liberal studies major from Onawa, Iowa, chose Oregon because her brothers lived in Portland.

“It was a way for me to be closer to family but also have the experience of going out on my own. I always thought I was a pretty independent person, but I learned a lot about myself on exchange,” she said.

Participating in the National Student Exchange has many academic benefits, as well as social and personal. Hardison’s credits were able to easily transfer, and she looked through a very different course catalog.

“One of my favorite classes was the Theory and Practice of Yoga. I also liked Gandhi and Nonviolence [a philosophy class],” Hardison said. “They were kind of life-changing in a way.”

Clubs and activities are not forgotten in the exchange. Hardison sang in a choir at Iowa State and didn’t want to lose that aspect of college. She joined the Glee Choir at Oregon State and was even a part of flash mobs that often occurred on campus.

The off-campus environment is just as important as the campus itself.

“I could hop on the train a lot and go to Portland to go to my brother’s. It was really cool to be immersed in the weird Portland culture,” Hardison said. “They like being weird. It’s a very unique place. [The TV show] Portlandia is not far off the mark.”

Hardison said that earlier is better and breaking boundaries makes it brighter.

“If you do it once, you’re probably going to want to do it again,” Hardison said. “I almost did it again my senior year but [at the] last minute decided I wasn’t going to, and I kind of regret that now. It’s such an amazing experience if you really want to learn about yourself. You don’t have to go abroad to have a cultural experience. There are a lot of great places in the United States. It’s a thrill. I gained a lot of knowledge about myself.”