This article first appeared on ABC News
By Donna Brazile
As an individual, one of the best ways to improve your situation in life is through education.
Likewise, one of the best ways to improve a nation is to make sure as many of its citizens as possible have access to the best educational opportunities possible. And as the economy becomes ever more globally interconnected, having a citizenry with international exchange experience is more important than ever.
Nearly 70 years ago, the Fulbright Program began to turn the proceeds from war surplus in the wake of World War II into an opportunity for educational exchange. In the aftermath of such a destructive conflict, where fear and suspicion of "the other" was part of life, Sen. J. William Fulbright thought that providing a way for people to actually meet and interact with those from other countries and cultures could help to break down the barriers of otherness and create a more peaceful world.
Over seven decades, this program has grown massively. The first Fulbright Program had just over 80 participants, and now there are over 8,000 every year. They are students, scholars, artists and professionals in all fields from the United States going overseas, and from abroad coming to America. Participants return with not only greater knowledge in their field, but also with enhanced leadership skills and much deeper understanding of another culture, which are keys for success.
The Fulbright Program must be accessible to the broadest possible spectrum of participants. Only by ensuring people of all races, all genders, all religions, and all socioeconomic backgrounds have access to this kind of opportunity can we also ensure that our country as a whole is best equipped to compete in the global economy. For that reason, the US Department of State, which manages the program, works diligently to attract Fulbright applicants who reflect the diversity of their home countries and societies.
In the United States, the State Department makes annual recruitment presentations to the Historically Black College and University Faculty Development Network, and at events such as the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund Higher Education Summit, and the annual conference of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.
The Fulbright Program brings America to the world in a way that few things can. Hollywood and television often project an unrealistic and crafted picture of American ideals. Much of news media presents scandals and spin. Direct people-to-people exchange, however, shows the real America. Those who come here immerse themselves in our culture through friends, mentors and communities. And when US participants go abroad, they may be the first Americans someone encounters.
By the same token, visiting students and scholars in US classrooms can show our students a world they could not have otherwise known. In both directions, the program helps break down stereotypes developed from a lifetime of receiving skewed information or even misinformation, and leave a lasting impression.
As Maya Angelou, a Fulbrighter herself, once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
In my role on the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, I am proud to be part of the Fulbright Program, and to work for policies that promote diverse and equitable participation. The program is a gift and a chance to present to the world the complete cultural mosaic that is America, while providing vital opportunities to boost the lives and livelihoods of people of all backgrounds.
Education helps to create good global citizens and, more and more, an international perspective is becoming vital to thrive in today's world. I encourage you to look into the Fulbright Program and its many opportunities to study, teach or research abroad. If not Fulbright, whatever your background, there are various options to help support and fund study or service abroad.
Go outside your comfort zone and discover the world -- it just might change your life.
Donna Brazile is an ABC News contributor, a Democratic strategist and a member of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. The opinions expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the view of ABC News.