Humans of The NRV: International Students

The Road To Success: A Brighter Future Awaits Some Away From Home

International students seek potential educational opportunities overseas, but most find something far more valuable along the way.

In a paper written by Shaohu Linda Pei and Lu Wendy Yan, international students at Iowa State University, titled, Home Away From Home”? How International Students Handle Difficult and Negative Experiences in American Higher Education, it is noted that, “… in contrast to their domestic counterparts, international students who come to the U.S. with a certain level of confidence and academic preparation may struggle to live and study in this unfamiliar culture with its unfamiliar education system.”

With the prominent struggle of acclimating to an entire new society, international students also face the consistent burden of being away from all family and friends, while striving to reach their highest academic potential.

“That said, some level of discomfort and even sadness is inevitable when an exchange student embarks on an extended trip so far from home,” said Karen Hewell in an article titled, ‘5 Ways to Help Your Student Overcome Homesickness.’

Though many international students are in this same boat, there are a number who find solace in communities within their universities. 

“Meeting people from different countries with a similar background to my own made me feel less alone when entering a new environment with very different responsibilities and expectations, and moving away from my immediate family for the first time,” said Kinga Rolak, an international student from Poland, studying at the University of Leeds.

Many of these students find that the future stemming from the connections they’ve made, is brighter and more fulfilling than any preconceived academically related experience. For some, that makes the journey that much more worthwhile. 

Listen to the full interview here: https://youtu.be/sHO-mroXI7o?si=gfI2VSQZ4aCJ2ZBY