By Hadassa Ferreira, Arts & Culture Editor
Hey girl! It’s been a while! Time passes so fast that you blinked, and now, you are about to start your senior year in college. Not any college, a college in the United States! You had dreamed of going abroad for so many years and had expected many things about being an international student in the United States, and I have to tell you that you made it!
It was hard at first with so many new things and different challenges to overcome, but you did it, and now, after three years, I can tell that you’re having a great experience!
The hardest part of being an international student is the culture shock you feel for being in a new country with a whole different culture. Being in a new environment is always hard; when you are in a new environment on your own and surrounded by people who see the world in a culturally different way from you, it is even harder.
This is why, if I had to give you some advice about adapting to Saint Leo University as an international student, I would tell you to spend the first months of this new year reminding yourself about the positive facts of this country and this university.
When we feel culture shock, it gets easier for us to think about our own country and all the good things we had at home. At the same time, we miss what we don’t have abroad and make unfair comparisons. This is why it is important to keep in mind that you chose to be in the United States and at Saint Leo for a reason, and that it is a privilege to realize an academic dream.
I remember you when you just arrived at Saint Leo, you seemed so lost, but at the same time so excited to experience everything college had to offer, that it was difficult to decide where to start. Mixed with that, the feeling of homesickness and unfitness was so huge that it seemed very important, almost crucial, to make friends and find your crew. But if I could tell you something about that phase, I would say: be patient.
Arriving in a new environment might be very uncomfortable, and for many international students, the easiest and safest option to make friends and get rid of the feeling of loneliness is to get closer to the other students who come from the same home country as them. However, it might not always be the best option.
The fact is that Saint Leo has a lot to offer, culturally speaking, and sometimes, those who are similar to you and meant to be your friends might have been on the other side of the globe from you this whole time. You just have to give a chance to the unknown and try to meet new people.
It is always good to remember that as a freshman, everyone is living a new beginning and looking for someone to share this new phase with. So, don’t be afraid to speak with everyone and get to know all types of people. Don’t get stuck with the stereotypes that you have in your mind, regardless of whether they are good or bad stereotypes.
Everything at the beginning of your college career is made to call your attention to the great things you’re about to be part of. Saint Leo has a lot to offer, from clubs and organizations to activities and events, as well as academic opportunities that seem perfectly tailored for you. Therefore, enjoy this new beginning genuinely and patiently. Live in the moment, remembering that you don’t need to have everything figured out and settled down right now. With time, everything fits in the right place.
Allow yourself to change your mind! It does not matter if it is a decision about your major or your new friends. As an incoming student, you can always change your mind and find something or someone else.
It is also important to remember that you don’t have to abandon the old part of you, that side of you that stayed in your home country. You can and should always stay in touch with your loved ones back home and feel comfortable sharing your new college experiences with them.
Moreover, at Saint Leo, there are so many international students and people from all over the world with so many different cultural backgrounds, that it won’t be hard to find people to share your cultural traditions and past histories. It is always easy to find alignments with other international students, regardless of which country they come from.
Don’t feel bad if the months start passing by and you’re still feeling dislocated. The truth is that a piece of yourself will always feel like that, and that is fine. It is just important to keep your expectations in the correct place. It takes time to construct solid relationships, whether with people or your academic course. You still have four years to do that; you will be okay, kid.
College time goes so fast that you will blink and be graduating. So, enjoy every moment as if it were your last one, because time does not come back. Welcome to your freshman year!
