International Student Voice Magazine Fall 2018

FALL 2018

Cameroonian

Student Summer selected as

Open to read more!

Photo Contest winner

Mary-Magdalene Chumbow studying at Ohio University received a

$500 scholarship for her winning photo

ALSO INSIDE: ISV Spotlight Award Winner Your Body may be in a New Country, but is Your Soul?

EVERY

INTERNATIONAL

student HAS A STORY...

What's Yours?

More than 1 million international students study in the United States, contributing billions of dollars to the country’s economy and helping provide thousands of jobs for Americans. However, we all know international students are more than just numbers. Each student has a face, each one a special story. We recently launched an awareness campaign to encourage international students to share their stories. By doing so, this helps us put the faces, stories, and dreams to the term "international student".

Carrie Circosta Editor in Chief

ccircosta@internationalstudentvoice.org

Those who submit their stories will be featured on our website, social media, and printed issues of ISV Magazine. Don’t wait! Learn more by visiting www.isvmag.com/internationalstudent

We can’t wait to hear your International Student Voice!

A Special Thank You to:

Mee Vue

Graphic Designer

mee@internationalstudentvoice.org

Eron Memaj

Managing Editor 2

International Student Voice Magazine

ememaj@internationalstudentvoice.org

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

welcome 2 from the editors

Join our team/Share your story

3 table of contents

Visit us online at www.isvmag.com

share your story 4 daiki yoshioka

Japan - Binghamton University

5 jahaziel hiriart

Mexico - Oral Roberts University

swity sultana monni

Bangladesh - Eastern Illinois University

6 yu-chun lai

Taiwan - University of New Mexico

7 vinicius martinson Brazil - University of Florida

anju gautam

Nepal - Western Connecticut State University

8 rosa armstrong Ghana - Ohio University

asmita saha

summer photo contest 12 introduction 13 winner: mary-magdalene chumbow Cameroon - Ohio University

14 unika dhakhwa Nepal - Juniata College

15 johanna ramos

Colombia - Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

16 jennifer medina Mexico - Juniata College

17 sara simonovska

Macedonia - The University of Akron

18 maayan brodsky

Israel - CUNY Graduate Center Public Program

19 mubarak haruna Nigeria - Merritt College

20 jenjira meekrobthong

Thailand - Long Beach City College

21 jose saul vasquez argueta

El Salvador - University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

22 lea lahoud

Lebanon - Virginia Commonwealth University

India - Eastern Illinois University

9 evan c.y. ng

Malaysia - The University of Tulsa

minh nguyen

what's your story?

23 how to share your story

featured story 10 your body may be in a new country, but is your soul?

By Katherine Zacapa Honduras - Maryville College

Social Media

Vietnam - University of Wyoming

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ISV MAGAZINE

SPOTLIGHT AWARD goes to

Daiki Yoshioka

japan - binghamton university

The ISV Magazine Spotlight Award recognizes an international student leader who makes significant contributions to the university community and serves as a role model to other international students.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Jeffner Allen, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, Interpretation, Culture and Africana Studies submitted the following nomination for Daiki: It is a pleasure to nominate Daiki Yoshioka for an ISV Magazine Spotlight Award. Daiki and I have discussed his schoolwork and life path several times during office hours. Although I have not known Daiki for a long period, I feel that I know him rather well in the university setting.

In an advanced seminar of 23 students, almost all of who are international students, immigrants, or first generation college students of immigrant families, Daiki’s presence and contributions have stood out. He takes on the course assignments, many of which feature extremely difficult readings, and dedicates full focus to interacting with and understanding the texts. As he has reached out to his peers, other students for whom speaking in English is a challenge have found their voices. Daiki’s eagerness to learn has set in motion a ripple effect, and then a wave, that visibly sustains and inspires each student in the learning process. Aware of the needs of students who, like himself, are financially limited, he invariably offers to share class materials.

Outside the classroom, Daiki has pursued a similar path of working actively to make education more inclusive and international. On campus at Binghamton University, a school of about 17,000 students, with many doctoral programs, and at his previous colleges, Daiki has worked as an English tutor, a math tutor, a translator, and a writing tutor. He has received a Recognition Award from the Binghamton Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities. Looking beyond the Binghamton campus, where Daiki is a member of the Student Assembly, he is a representative to the state-wide SUNY Student Assembly, where he focuses on increasing mentoring and scholarships for international students, and for all students. The leadership roles that he has taken directly further diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.

Daiki’s focus on working concretely to support the needs of low income students and students from marginal backgrounds reflects much that he has learned from his own life struggles. Hard experiences have yielded rich insights and a strong motivation to transform education and give back. The steadfastness of Daiki’s dedication and the depth of his commitment to work in small and larger ways for change stands out as meriting consideration for a Spotlight Award.

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International Student Voice Magazine

MORE ABOUT DAIKI:

I was a rebel. I’m from a low-middle income family and came to the US for liberal-art education, diversity, and opportunity. To prove that individuals from poor backgrounds can realize dreams, I have never wasted time.

Not only have I maintained GPA of 3.9, I have also gotten involved in Student Government and SUNY Student Assembly. I attended MIT Innovation & Entrepreneurship Bootcamp.

I will also be presenting at the National Conference for Peer Tutor Writing. In the future, I want to help socioeconomically poor youth to realize their dreams while giving back to my family.

Jahaziel Hiriart

mexico - oral robertS university I’m an international student from Saltillo, Coahuila and have been in the U.S. for 13 years. My intention was always to return to my country. Those plans changed with the dangers of the drug war. Instead, I have sought degrees after degrees in my efforts to maintain legal status under my student visa. I am now working on my doctorate. I have not been back to Mexico in 10 years. It’s hard, but I’m thankful I have a community of fellow international students that understand our journey: the joys, fears, struggles and sacrifices. Never stop celebrating our rich diversity!

Swity Sultana Monni

Bangladesh - Eastern Illinois University

I am an international student from Bangladesh. I have come to the United States for pursuing a master’s in Political Science and Government. I had a desire to study in a global environment and familiar with academic excellence. Although I have started my graduate program in August 2018, I have discovered myself within ample opportunity by getting a large research area with innovative research faculty, an ethos of discovery, interactive study, opportunities to integrate knowledge and experience. In a nutshell, it creates a new avenue to work in global politics and to embrace the collective global future.

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THE

F

IMPORTANCe SECOND LANGUAGE

rom a young age, I understood the importance of learning a second language. I grew up in Taiwan, having a relatively good understanding of the cultures of neighboring countries.

Consequently, learning Japanese became my first goal towards becoming multilingual. I was fortunate to be able to learn Japanese, but as I grew older, my horizons broadened. I realized that if I ever wanted to leave Asia, English would be the key to opening the door.

It is hard to learn English well under the public education system in Taiwan. I knew that if I wanted to speak fluent English, I would have to find a different way to achieve this goal. Little did I know, it would send me down a path that would change my life.

English has never been my forte nor a big interest of mine. It was a struggle to force myself to learn it and I never made much progress. I wanted to give up, but I remembered when I first tried to learn Japanese. I went to a language center, but it never seemed to help. It was only when I traveled to Japan for a year on a working holiday visa that I finally got a grasp on the language.

I was immersed in Japanese, seeing or hearing everything in the language. My dominance of Japanese quickly advanced by leaps and bounds. I suddenly realized that immersion is the most important part of learning a new language. After one year of English tutorial classes, I decided that if I was going to be serious about learning English, I needed to become an international student and stay in the United States.

The life of an international student is full of surprises and challenges. First of all, at University of New Mexico (UNM) I was surprised to see so many ethnicities. There is diversity in Taiwan, but I had never experienced so many in one environment. Students from all over the world come to the U.S. to achieve their dreams. It makes me feel less homesick and alone. It also inspires me to work hard. My English classes are difficult and it isn’t easy to follow the instructor’s directions, but it is my mission to absorb as much knowledge and feedback as

Yu-Chun Lai, an international student from Taiwan studying at the University of New Mexico, shares how learning a second language has opened doors to experience new opportunities.

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International Student Voice Magazine

OF LEARNING A

possible. Thanks to The Center for English Language and American Culture’s (CELAC) patient instructors and the support system that exists at UNM, I feel like I am making progress. For the first time, I feel like I am benefiting from both immersion and language instruction.

Looking back, I remember previous experiences taking the wrong bus, or trying to find a hostel late at night. Today, these experiences seem small compared to the academic challenges I am facing, such as writing this very essay.

After a few months at UNM, my life has changed. I no longer have to repeat myself over and over again when I order in a restaurant, nor do I have to eat the wrong order. My time here has also empowered me. Education in Taiwan requires students to memorize information and learn to answer single-choice questions, mechanically. In contrast, education in the Western world is more inspiring and versatile. Not only is my English being graded, but my creativeness is also taken into consideration. I feel like my personality is changing. I am willing to try new things and I am getting more confident. When I feel weak, I realize my potential and I am more prepared to face challenges. I am so proud of these changes.

Today, I enjoy all of the diversity I encounter at UNM. My life here has become wonderful and better than I could have ever expected. I am so glad I made this decision. Becoming an international student has led me down a path towards a promising future. I don’t know exactly what will come next, but I am not afraid and I enthusiastically await my next big opportunity.

Learn more about the University of New Mexico by visiting www.geo.unm.edu/admission/

Vinicius Martinson Brazil - university of florida I arrived in Florida in 2014, barely knowing much about what to expect.

Started with my engineering degree and also joined a Brazilian student association. Three years later, I became co-president of that association, and I began to travel to France, China and all over the U.S. helping to organize student conferences. If you put your mind, focus, strength and go the extra mile, you can achieve anything you want.

Anju Gautam

Nepal - western connecticut state university Namaste! I came to the U.S three years ago from Nepal.

I used to be a tour guide and a translator back in Nepal.

I love traveling, exploring and learning new things. I came to the U.S to pursue my bachelor's in business management supervisory and minor in economics.So far I love it here, I have made many friends and experienced this amazing new culture. The education system is very different here from Nepal. During these three years I have had many interactions with people from all over the world and learned a great deal about global business and culture.

I do miss home and friends all the time. I hope they are proud of me for being here and doing what I am doing.

I am currently at Western Connecticut State University.

I love my University. I am also the president of our Entrepreneurial Research Innovation and Creativity Club here and also a Career Peer Leader. I want to thank my family and friends for their love and support and believing in me. Here in America I am one step closer to my goal of becoming a successful business woman and economist.

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Asmita Saha

India - Eastern Illinois university I am an international student from India. I have come to United States for pursuing my master's in Clinical Psychology. I made this choice because I wanted to learn in a global setting and get as much exposure as I can. It has been just about three weeks here, and I already feel a change within myself.

From embracing the change to accepting different values and belief systems, international education has transformed the lens with which I view the world. The global exposure in my classroom has broadened my understanding and made me extremely aware about everything.

Rosa Armstrong Ghana - Ohio University

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International Student Voice Magazine

My name is Rosa, 'Efua' Armstrong. Living in between Ghana, parts of Europe and now the United States have shaped me in many ways mainly intellectual, professional, and personal. I started out on my graduate journey as a French major, but later came to the full understanding that I wanted to do something larger and more impactful as an African than teaching French in a classroom setting. Life happened and I found myself sitting in an International studies class in what would be my second masters degree.

Fast forward to today, I have a clearer sharper knowledge of my academic professional goals and I find myself constantly defending and delivering social commentary bordering on the importance of an unwavering identity and understanding of self and heritage. Being a language major, I have always known that a person can never adequately draw comparative conclusions with anything foreign or external if they do not first have an understanding of self.

Though slightly paradoxical, studying in the United States gave me that deeper understanding of self and the need not to blend in but to stand out no matter the implications of the word 'different'.

Evan C.Y. Ng

Malaysia - the university of tulsa I’m a fifth generation Malaysian of Chinese descent, born and raised in my beloved country Malaysia. I love my Chinese culture, but I love Malaysia more than anything else. Before coming to the U.S. I always thought that cultural identity and nationality were two mutually exclusive constructs. However, now I realize that my identity as a Malaysian is based on my loyalty and love towards Malaysia, and preserving my culture while calling myself a Malaysian won’t diminish my cultural identity, but add value to the diversity of my country. I am and will always be proud to call myself Malaysian.

Minh Nguyen

Vietnam - University of Wyoming I have a passion for improving my communication skills, especially in public speaking. Since joining Toastmasters International in 2014, I have participated in and helped organize several public speaking contests to promote the importance of better communication in our local community.

The network this organization has is extensive and I have been fortunate to meet a lot of great mentors here, leading to me earning multiple communication and leadership awards. The highlight of my membership is working together as a team of club officers, we have accomplished the Toastmasters President’s Distinguished Club Award, the highest honor a club can receive.

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YOUR BODY MAY BE IN

A NEW COUNTRY, BUT IS YOUR

SOUL?

W

hen I was 16, I did an exchange year in Switzerland. That was the very first time I hopped on a plane, and it was to cross the whole Atlantic Ocean to live with a family I had only read about on paper for a whole year. But when you are 16, do you even think about these things? I didn’t. The first day I got to my host family’s house I wasn’t sure how I was feeling. It wasn’t sadness, it wasn’t excitement, it wasn’t fear.

I couldn’t really figure out what it was. During that same first week, I still vividly remember, my host dad asking me, “Is your soul here?” This really confused me. I asked, “What do you mean?” He explained how when you travel somewhere, your body gets there first, but it takes some time until your soul does. This happened five years ago, and it has stuck with me ever since.

I am currently in Japan to study abroad for four months and it took my soul a little over a week to get here. Two years ago I left my home country, Honduras, to study in the USA. Before traveling to Japan, I saw my family, and we had a blast. It was the nicest trip ever. Once I got to Japan, I couldn’t understand why I was missing them so much if I study in the USA and I had said goodbye many times before. After meditating on this, it shook me how strong family bonds are. I hadn’t seen my mom for about 4 months and spending time with her and my sister, who I get along really well with, made me so happy and just made the bonds tighter. That is why it took my soul a little over a week to get to Japan because somehow it was still with them.

International students often fall into this cycle of going home then going back to their host universities and so on and so forth. We see our families, the bonds grow tighter or looser, then we go back to our lives in our host country, and then we see our families again and it becomes a cycle. Sometimes leaving might be really easy, but other times you might cry. Sometimes it is easier to go back to school to your normal routine. It is understandable if you feel weird like you can’t adjust. It might even happen the other way around, and you feel an uneasiness towards your home country. What I want you to know is that you’re not weird for feeling like this and that it is actually pretty normal.

Next time you feel out of place and you can’t really figure out what it is, ask yourself, “Is my soul here?” If it’s a no, don’t worry, it will get there, but just be patient.

It is okay to feel this way.

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International Student Voice Magazine

KAtheRine's tipS

for when you are going through this or just feel out of place:

1

Express what you’re feeling: it doesn’t matter if it’s through a journal, an adult coloring book, dancing or just listening to music while walking. Expressing what you’re feeling will help you let out a little bit of stress.

2 3 4

Talk about it: even if it is hard for you to talk about feelings, this will help you feel better. Most likely, someone else is feeling the same way.

Get busy: say it with me, “DO NOT STAY IN YOUR ROOM.” Get out, explore, walk, do laundry, anything. Distract your mind.

Lastly and most importantly, be patient with yourself: we have been taught that we have to always be strong and that we always have to be happy for studying abroad, but this is not always the case. No one teaches us that it is normal to not be happy all the time and to just let things out. So cry all you want, but get back on your feet! It won’t last forever.

Katherine Zacapa Honduras - Maryville College

SUmMER IS V M AG A Z I N E

2018

PHOTO CONTEST

!

Cameroonian

Student Summer selected as

Photo Contest winner

Winner:

CONGRATULATIONS

Mary-Magdalene Chumbow cameroon - ohio university

More than 30 international students entered the International Student Voice Magazine scholarship contest for a chance to win a $500 scholarship for the 2018-2019 academic year. Students were asked to submit a photo, along with a caption, describing what life is like in a new country. Judging was based on 60% creativity, quality, and caption and 40% based on Facebook likes.

The TOP 10 photos were selected based on Facebook likes, from those 10 photos the winning photo was selected based on creativity, quality, and description.

Mary-Magdalene:

“Receiving the news that the photo I had entered into the contest had won, meant everything to me. Not only did it come on a Friday afternoon, after I had had quite a rough first week of school , but it also came as a much needed form of encouragement. I saw so many amazing photos entered into the competition and captions which simply blew my mind away, so being selected as a winner, simply humbles me. As a Christian, the first thing that comes to mind is that this could only be by God’s grace and for me, all glory, no matter how big or small, go back to Him; My baby, JP, and I, keep looking forward to seeing the great things He has planned for us in this new nation He has placed us in. I would like to thank the ISV team once more for this opportunity that it is giving international students from across the globe, to share their amazing experiences on such a great platform.�

Winn ing Phot o "A year before this photo was taken, he had not dreamed of visiting and living in the places he has been to so far. Today, seeing my eight-year-old with a pink selfie stick in hand and #BlackPanther T-shirt on his body, taking a selfie with the big White House on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the background, I believe this is just the beginning of somethi ng beautiful. This gives me hope for the new life we just started in this new country , the USA; Hope of exposure, adventure and growth, together."

ISV Magazine would also like to also congratulate the nine student finalists, also featured in this issue.

A special thank you to International Student Protection for sponsoring this scholarship.

SUmMER

PHOTO CONTEST

2018

I S V M AG A Z I N E

!

TOP 10

This picture is a REPRESENTATION - of my -

"FIRSTS" Unika Dhakhwa nepal - juniata college

L

ife is full of new beginnings, and for me, Juniata College was one of them. This picture is a representation of my “first’s”. Just like how my first words or my first time walking when I was a baby was important to my parents, my first step into a completely different country was important to me as well. My beginning was a rough one, but later I bounced back and I had one of the best years of my life. I got to experience my first actual snowfall, my first job acceptance, and my first time away from home. These “first’s” paved a path to my independence and helped me make home away from home.

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International Student Voice Magazine

Johanna Ramos

colombia - embry-riddle Aeronautical university

This picture is a REPRESENTATION - of the -

mixeD FEELINGS of coming to study in the United States

M

y picture of the Eiffel Tower’s reflection off the wet pavement of Paris represents the mixed feelings of coming to study in the United States of America. Being out of your comfort zone and away from home, family and friends is challenging, but just as my picture, even when you are crestfallen and under the rain you can find glimpses of something magnificent if you look closely enough.

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SUmMER I S V M AG A Z I N E

2018

PHOTO CONTEST

!

TOP 10

This picture is a REPRESENTATION - of -

SPREADING my wiNgs

Jennifer Medina mexico - juniata college

L

ike all Mexicans, I am attached to my roots and my family, however, being able to study in a foreign country has allowed me to know myself and realize that my family is not only the one who has my culture or as we say in Mexico ( mi misma sangre), but also everyone who is willing to meet and love regardless our nationality. And that is the point of traveling, getting to know and love what others are and do.

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International Student Voice Magazine

Sara Simonovska

macedonia - the university of akron

T

his summer, before I engage in my graduate studies at University of Akron, I got to experience the beauty of Skopelos island in Greece. This picture resembles my view of the last four months.

Even though I am far from home, Macedonia, I am grateful to be able to experience such cultural differences, near and far. Standing on this beautiful island, where pirates fought in the Medieval ages, feeling the salty water on my skin and looking at the beautiful horizon, explains the joyfulness of my soul in a new country.

This picture is a REPRESENTATION - of my -

TRAVELING EXPERIENCE

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SUmMER

PHOTO CONTEST

2018

I S V M AG A Z I N E

!

TOP 10

Mayaan Brodsky

israel - cuny graduate center public programs

W

hen I was a child, nothing symbolized America more than the Empire State Building, and living in my little kibbuz (a kind of communal village in Israel) it seemed like the farthest place imaginable. Now it is the first thing I see when I step out of my campus every day. In my first few weeks in NYC I was so preoccupied with immigration bureaucracy, that I passed by it every day and didn’t even recognize it. To me this photo represents the opportunity I have as an international student to go as far as I dare and climb as high as I can.

This picture is a REPRESENTATION - of the -

oppoRtUNitY

I have as an international student

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International Student Voice Magazine

Mubarak Haruna This picture is a REPRESENTATION - of -

FAMILY

Regardless of your race, language, religion, we are all one.

nigeria - merritt college

A

lovely dinner at Laney Bistro with my new friends from all over the world. When I started my new life in America, I needed to know about the culture and make new friends.

This dinner was a good chance to learn about my friend’s various cultures and experiences and also gave me an opportunity to share mine. Although most of us are immigrants, this photo represents that in America, regardless of your race, language, religion, we are all one and we are family.

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SUmMER

PHOTO CONTEST

2018

I S V M AG A Z I N E

!

TOP 10

Jenjira Meekrobthong

This picture is a

thailand - long beach city college

REPRESENTATION - of the -

BeAUTY oF NATURE

I

was born and raised on the farmland in the countryside of “The Land of Smile”. The way I was raised has related my life to the beauty of nature. I had a very simple and peaceful life, but I wasn’t really appreciated it that much. Instead, I always thought about leaving the farm for something more civilized. Studying in the United States is a dream come true, but I still long for my childhood life on the farm. This picture was taken by my nine-year-old cousin when we drove past a park in San Pedro, California and saw the blooming flowers on the roadside, during late Spring 2018. The picture represents me of how I am so fascinated by the beauty of nature, and how I am so fascinated by the beauty of feminism. I love the variety of seasons in the United States, especially Spring and Fall because they make me feel like living in my hometown. For me, Spring represents the season in Thailand when we have rain to grow rice. It is the time that everything we grow is radiantly blooming. Fall represents the time when we have to harvest our crops. Overall, America makes me feel like home.

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International Student Voice Magazine

Jose Saul Vasquez Argueta

el salvador - uNIVERSITY OF wisconsin-stevens point

L

ife in a new country doesn’t only require becoming fluent in a new language. I strongly believe that it is equally important to immerse yourself in the culture and learn the history. A recent trip to Washington, D.C. was an eye-opening experience. A sense of community and patriotism was evident throughout the city. It was a perfect place to learn about the forefathers and the history of the United States of America.

This picture is a REPRESENTATION - of the -

EYE-OPENING experience I encountered in Washington, D.C.

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SUmMER I S V M AG A Z I N E

2018

PHOTO CONTEST

!

TOP 10

This picture is a REPRESENTATION - of an -

OWL

and staying up late at night

Lea Lahoud

lebanon - virginia commonwealth university

T

he Owl represents staying up late at night, as the saying goes, “night owl”. The owl, despite being under the blankets trying to sleep, has his mind occupied. I believe living in a new country keeps you mind busy especially during the night when you are by yourself, thinking of what to do, whom you miss, whether you’ll succeed or not, new dreams, etc.

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International Student Voice Magazine

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARE MORE THAN JUST

NUMBERS

EACH ONE

EACH ONE

HAS A

HAS A

FACE

STORY

What's Yours?

Share your story and you could be featured in our next issue of International Student Voice Magazine!

Sharing your story is easy. To learn more, visit www.isvmag.com/internationalstudent

isvmag.com

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