Study abroad tips: 5 lessons you can learn from watching The Last of Us series

Does the experience of studying abroad feel like a challenging game of survival? We hope that’s not what you think, especially if you’ve watched The Last of Us zombie apocalypse series!

Still, there can be valuable lessons you learn from it when venturing into a new country for the first time alone. This series can teach you important lessons to learn in life.

With the right strategy and tactics from the series, we are sure you’ll be able to survive and thrive in your new environment!

With every semester comes new friends and with every challenge comes a new opportunity to grow and prove yourself.

So, before you set off on your overseas study journey, take a look at these 5 useful life lessons and tips you can learn from the drama thriller The Last of Us.

5 life-changing lessons about survival from The Last of Us for your study abroad adventure

1. Open up to different perspectives

Let’s be real: not everyone is going to think or act the same way as you - and we aren’t talking about the zombies!

In The Last of Us, everyone has had to go through their own struggles in order to survive. Not everyone’s way of thinking and perception of survival would look the same.

In fact, Joel, the gruff, hardened survivor (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie, the witty protagonist (Bella Ramsey), didn’t always get along in the beginning and had opposing approaches on how to navigate their journey.

But it’s when they opened up to each other’s differences that they began to see the bigger picture, understand and actually learn from each other. In episode 6 after a heated argument triggered by Joel looking to leave Ellie in the safety of a community, both of them realised that their greatest fear was being alone. It was only by talking it out that they came to learn this.

Just like in university, you’re going to cross paths with people with opposing views and opinions from you. But that doesn’t mean it's the end of the world (pun intended).

Instead, embrace cultural diversity, take all sides and perspectives into consideration and make it a point to always practice open-mindedness.

2. Being vulnerable is a strength

Unfortunately, the stigma of vulnerability being seen as a weakness still exists in some places and in certain people’s beliefs. But The Last of Us teaches us that this supposed weakness is actually what can make us stronger, as seen in the emotional progression of Joel’s character played by the masterful Pascal.

Sometimes, letting your guard down and allowing yourself to be vulnerable to those around you can help you build relationships with your college peers and foster a sense of community and closeness that you may long for from your family back home.

Remember: vulnerability isn’t a weakness but a sign of courage. This will help you to overcome the challenges of studying abroad.

3. Accept your fears and conquer them

Instead of running away from your fears, the best way to deal with them is to face them head-on and acknowledge them. Even if it’s a zombie or two.

Throughout each episode, Joel and Ellie go through a plethora of different grave situations that were a matter of life and death. What helped them overcome these circumstances is the resilience they have built up over the course of time.

While you won’t be facing the “living dead” as they did, the struggles of living as an international student living abroad will come with its open unique set of challenges. But those are the things that will give you the strength to persevere in the course of your studies.

It is completely natural to feel afraid in unfamiliar territory and situations.

But anyone can confront their fears and overcome them. And so can you.

4. Stay connected with family

Keeping close to the ones you love is what’s going to help you survive.

*Mild spoiler* For a period of time, Joel’s main goal in the series was to reunite with his sole remaining brother Tommy, even if that meant risking his life to cross states and potentially coming across the ‘infected’.

Despite having a complicated relationship and not having seen each other for ages, family is what kept Joel going.

While we can’t compare Joel’s treacherous journey in reuniting with his brother to university living abroad, we can also take away similar lessons from his story.

Make it a point to constantly keep in touch with family and friends back home, whether it’s a simple video call at the end of the day before heading to bed or an organised virtual game night.

This will not only help you stay connected with loved ones back home but also allow you to share your new college experiences and have a source of comfort even though you are miles apart.

5. Be a good friend

The moment Ellie and Joel finally started to get along and help each other, things started to look up for them. One such moment was when Joel started joking with Ellie and offered to teach her the guitar as they walked through Salt Lake City.

Living by yourself overseas in a completely new place can be daunting, let alone navigating university life without those you love by your side. That’s why building meaningful friendships in college is incredibly important.

Master tip for students abroad: having a supportive community can improve your social and academic life, and even comfort you when you’re feeling homesick!

But as much as having friends is important in your college life, it’s also vital to be a good one to those around you.

When you offer a helping hand to a friend in need or act as their source of comfort when they’re feeling low, the same things will come back to you too.

Take these lessons into your overseas study journey

From embracing vulnerability to building resilience, watching The Last of Us could leave a deep impression on you, and life lessons for students that can help you be more prepared for university life abroad.

If you need more, the good news is you don’t have to navigate this journey on your own.

At IDP, our education counsellors have the experience and know-how to guide you through the application process to study in your dream destination and university (they’re not zombie experts though).

Tap into this tailored guidance and service for studying abroad, at no cost to you, today. Get in touch with an education counsellor! Enquire with us or hit the message button to drop us a question!