Another example of Mission's good

One need look no further than South Middle School for an example of how Missouri Southern's International Mission affects and enriches the local community.

Four international students from the University recently visited Lisa Bock's sixth-grade class.

The Southern students talked about education in their own countries and how it differs from the United States.

The visit was a success and the teacher hopes to bring the experience back for her new classes next year.

Without Southern's International Mission and the international students attending the University, an experience like that would have never been possible.

And, while some of the middle school students may soon forget about the visit, what about those who think about the things they learned?

Those students may now consider Southern as a destination for higher education. Those students may now have an interest in studying abroad and learning about other cultures more in depth.

And don't forget the international students themselves. How much did they learn from this exposure to a typical middle school in America?

It's easy to see how the International Mission affects this institution.

The themed semesters expose thousands to other cultures. International students bring aspects of their own cultures with them. And, perhaps most importantly, students from the area travel abroad and expand their horizons, becoming changed people in the process.

It is the combination of benefits provided to the University community and to the local community as a whole that is the best example of how successful and necessary the International Mission truly is.

Especially at a time when renewed emphasis is being placed on this University reaching out and connecting with members of local communities.