Student Life Story - Fabio Jorge Correa Garcia

A Journey Back Home

by Fabio Jorge Correa Garcia

My journey toward Tennessee Wesleyan began in 2015 when I set goals for myself to play tennis in the United States, earn a bachelor’s degree, and immerse myself in a new culture. I never dreamed, however, that during my first semester here in 2018, I would also gain teammates, peers, and professors that I consider to be family, making Athens, Tennessee, my home away from home in São Paulo, Brazil. I realize and am thankful that this is all possible because TWU is a close-knit community that truly cares about me not only as a student, an athlete, and a future professional, but also as a person. This made my journey to Wesleyan and my freshman year extremely fulfilling.

During my sophomore year, however, everything that I enjoyed as a Wesleyan student, including studying in the library, practicing on the tennis court, and gathering for weekly FCA meetings quickly stopped in a necessary effort to keep everyone safe. Upon switching to online classes in March of 2020, I decided to go back to be with my family in Brazil for what I thought would be a three-month stay.

In fact, I remember thinking that Covid-19 would come and go fast enough for me to once again return to normal life in Athens. I certainly did not realize that a new “normal” was being determined for everyone worldwide and that I would soon be met with unbelievable difficulties that would make continuing my education, reaching my goals, and being with my community at Tennessee Wesleyan seem impossible.

This is because due to the high numbers of positive cases, people were prohibited from traveling specifically from Brazil to America, and remote learning was not an option for me or any other international student because of regulations put in place by SEVIS. So, I quickly began working around the clock to find a way to make it back to my American home, but it seemed that every attempt, every endeavor, and every bit of hope that I had was failing.

I even considered transferring my credits to a university in Brazil. The thought of that, however, made me feel like I was losing a part of myself because Wesleyan means more than college credit—it also means unity, family, and support. I was determined never to give up on that.

Finally, I received the news that I could study at TWU from Brazil until travel restrictions were lifted! I remember celebrating alongside my family and friends in Brazil and, most importantly, the life-long friends I have made in Athens. If it were not for them, I would have given up.

So, for one semester, I studied from home but stayed engaged with my Wesleyan family in every way possible. I planned and presented a project with a fellow marketing student from around 4,500 miles away, virtually attended the wedding of a Wesleyan student, kept in touch with professors, and daily looked forward to returning to Athens.

Then, after a three-month trip home turned into a nine-month trip, I finally returned back to my second home and have since reflected and thanked God that He has sent me to a place that has helped me achieve my goals while also allowing me to receive the deepest desires of my heart—belonging, community, and development. I realize that these are the things I could not find just anywhere.

Because of these things, even when I am no longer a student, church member, teammate, or resident assistant in Athens, I will always be a Bulldog. Even when I leave Wesleyan with my degree in hand, no matter where life takes me, I will always have a home in Athens, Tennessee, because of Tennessee Wesleyan University.