What Does It Mean To Be An International Student?

By Leila Ataeva; Skokie, Illinois

If you get a chance to study abroad, what will you do? Most perspective students will reply: “I can’t believe it, I could be an international student in a country I only dreamed about. Let’s do it!”

Abroad education is always attractive to students. There are new people, a new culture, new foods, and a new life as well. But at the same time there are new challenges for students to face in a new country. That’s why it’s very important for schools to support international students and make them feel more comfortable as they adapt to their new life in the United States. Computer Systems Institute always create some activities for them. The most recent event was on Halloween. We had a promotion where the main idea was taking a picture with any pumpkin, posting to any social media with #HALLOWEENCSI and getting a treat at school. During the International Education Week (November 13-17, 2017) we are going to have some events which help students have fun by sharing traditional foods, stories and the proud heritage of their home country. Below you can find a schedule for each event we are having next week. Don’t hesitate to join us!

Show Your Country Pride!
November 13, 14, and 19
Show your country pride by dressing in traditional clothes from your country, your country’s sports team or country flag.

Share Your Culture through Food
November 15, 16, and 18
Student Potluck – Bring and share traditional foods from your country to share with your classmates.

Where Are You From?
November 13 – 19
Stop at the Front Desk or Student Affairs to get a sticker to mark your home country on our campus world map.

While we are preparing for events, I got a chance to catch some students and ask them one question: “As an international student what are you most thankful about international education?” These are their words:

“Being a student overseas, or international education in general, opens so many doors and grants us so many opportunities (such as learning a new language, etc.), that perhaps everyone should explore study abroad programs and maybe even get enrolled into one. In a nutshell, I’m thankful for the many opportunities that international education provides us with”. – Diana Shayakhmetova, Kazakhstan

“I’m thankful for exposure and various opportunities”. – Cornelius Oluwaseun, Amondi, Nigeria

“As an international student, I really appreciate the level and quality of the education I receive. The diverse classrooms gives an opportunity to interact and learn different culture.
International students gets an equal opportunity to attain American level of education, regardless of their country of origin. American education is widely accepted in most of the countries.
As an international student, I also get a chance to work in the field of study and to apply the class room education and build a career.
Adding an international level of experience to my resume will also help me when I go back to my home country. Applying the business concept that I learn practically and the classroom education will escalate my career. It also helps to build an international network, for future endeavor/business”. – Jaymin Patel, India

“Studying in the United States has been an extraordinary opportunity to improve my English and to learn more about the world and find a different points of view”. – Guilherme Andrade Lage, Brazil.

“I’m most thankful as a CSI International students for the opportunity to live and continue studying abroad. It has given me privilege of broadening my horizons and continue to explore life in another continent”. – Osatohanmwen Evbu Atohengbe, Nigeria.

Doing something you’ve never done before is always difficult. But when you have friends (new international friends) new things are going to be more fun and interesting. Keep learning and doing what you like to do and soon you’ll succeed. Happy International Education Week!

What Does It Mean To Be An International Student?