Hello beloved reader,
Welcome to our exclusives! For those who are not familiar with our exclusives, we love to invite other people to contribute to our content either through an interview or a guest post appearance. This gives you, our beloved reader, the opportunity to learn from other people and allows us to share with you and others what we learn from our guests.
This interview is about the life of international students in the United States. We have the opportunity to hear from students from various backgrounds, cultures, and countries about their journey as international students in the US. We will delve into their challenges, experiences, and highlights of their time in college. We will then end with their advice for future international students. Our goal is to gain a deeper understanding of these students’ unique perspectives and insights into the American higher education system. So, without further ado, let’s dive in and hear from our guests about their life as international students in the US. Sit back, relax, and let’s learn from these global perspectives.
Introduction.
Please tell us about yourself: your name, what year you are in college, what you are studying, and where you are from.
International student 1: My name is Aro. I’ll be a sophomore in the Fall of 2020. I major in economics. I was born in Madagascar but raised in Ivory Coast. I’m a pianist and a guitarist into jazz and gospel music.
International student 2: My name is Rejoice. I graduated recently in May. I studied biology. I am from Nigeria.
International student 3: My name is Gaga Christina. I am a junior. I am studying nursing. I am from Nigeria.
Q/A Session.
How does it feel to be an international student?
Aro: I feel like being an international student is a strength because I have something different to bring to a campus community. I also enjoy the fact that I have the opportunity to learn about other cultures through spending time with people from other parts of the world.
Rejoice: It was a weird but good feeling. The weird part is leaving one’s comfort zone and approaching a new environment, culture, and lifestyle different from the one I was used to. The good part is that I will get an excellent education to better myself and my community.
What were your expectations for college vs. the reality?
Aro: When it comes to my expectations, I thought that college would be a place where I would struggle on my own to achieve my goals. But now that it’s been about a year, I can say that it is the complete opposite. In pretty much everything I have done, I was able to get help when I asked.
Rejoice: I honestly did not know what to expect from college life other than the freedom that came with it, but the reality of it is that college was hard. I studied Biology for pre-med, and there were times when I doubted my ability to succeed in the medical field. But God saw me through it, and I’m thankful for that.
How did you adapt to the new environment, food, people, class schedules, and extracurricular activities?
Aro: Adapting to the new life wasn’t easy at first, but progressively it became natural. I only needed to accept the change as part of the college experience and understand that life isn’t always going to be what I want.
Rejoice: I studied my environment and made friends whose lifestyle is similar to mine.
What is one thing you wish you had known before studying abroad?
Aro: I wish I knew that college wasn’t that scary. I would have saved the energy I wasted being concerned about what would happen in college.
Rejoice: I wish I had known what life would be like for an international student before deciding to be one. But I guess you live and learn from it.
How would you describe your undergraduate experience as an international student?
Aro: As an international student, my experience has been enjoyable so far.
Rejoice: It was fun! I loved the experience of meeting new people. Getting involved with an international student ministry organization on campus was definitely the highlight of my undergraduate career. I was very involved on campus, which brought me many meaningful experiences.
Gaga Christina: I would say it was motivational and filled with so many “what-ifs.”
Do you think there are things you would have done differently?
Aro: There are a lot of things I would have done differently. I would have chosen my friends more smartly. I would have followed my budget more carefully. Above all, I would have taken more opportunities to go out, meet people, and move forward in my professional life.
Rejoice: I attended a great school, but I wish that I had looked into other schools that had opportunities for international students who were interested in STEM, research, and other related things.
Gaga Christina: Yes. But when I think about those things, I see how much they served as life lessons in remarkable ways.
What did you like the most about being an international student?
Rejoice: Being able to share my culture with my American friends.
Gaga Christina: The fact that other international students can relate to my experiences. Also, the opportunity to study in another country, to be honest.
What did you hate the most about being an international student?
Rejoice: Not having enough opportunities.
Gaga: Nothing.
Closing Remarks.
Thank you for your time and for sharing your experiences as an international student in the USA. It has been a pleasure speaking with you. To sum up this interview, what words of encouragement do you have to share with prospective and current international students?
Aro: In all, being an international student is not easy initially because of the adaptation phase. It took me an entire year to understand my surroundings, get used to social cues, and be more comfortable speaking English. It’s okay to be scared of the outside world, but it’s essential to realize that things are not that bad. Get out of your room. You will enjoy it as soon as you’re ready to give the outside world a chance. Also, be confident in who you are. Be proud of where you’re coming from, and do not be ashamed of what you’ve been through because everything will become part of your story. A story that you will have to share with the world someday. Tell people who you are. It’s the most beautiful thing you can say.
Rejoice: Hi there, welcome to this new stage of your life. It can be overwhelming but know that you’re not alone. You’re here for a reason, and whatever it is, enjoy the process. Make sure to communicate with friends and family back home while also making new friends and family here. One thing I learned is not to be afraid to ask questions. Whatever it is, it is not a dumb question. I wish you all the best in your educational endeavors! God bless you!
Gaga Christina: It’s going to be hard. Always remember your primary goal of moving to another country to study.
Interviewer’s Note.
The application and interview process for American Universities can be quite exhausting. Most prospective applicants can testify that the more informed you are about the process, the easier it becomes. Even after getting past the mountain of applications and the visa interview beast, you will still have to face the reality of your migration. Moving to another country where you will be exposed to other cultures is a big deal. It can be quite scary and overwhelming. I hope the information shared here will be helpful for you if you are already/considering studying in the USA or need to be informed about the process.
In the meantime, kindly leave a comment highlighting your questions and experiences regarding study abroad programs and life as an international student.
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Till next time, Shalom!
