International Student: Own "Community"

Welcome, international students!

Today's discussion revolves around creating your own "community," a concept that encourages you to broaden your horizons and embrace diversity by incorporating new cultures into your daily life.

I encourage you to broaden your horizons and embrace diversity to create your community. Embrace new cultures regularly.

I understand that when we are new at college, we tend to look for someone who speaks the same language as us, which is understandable as it helps us feel more at home.

However, when we find someone who speaks our language, we should try to branch out and connect with different people whom we feel comfortable talking to. Once you are settled in your community, try to be open to meeting as many other colleagues or friends as possible.

Attending colleges and universities offers the benefit of engaging with a wide variety of individuals, such as classmates and professors. Take advantage of this opportunity! Here's a helpful tip:

1. Don't be shy!!! Smile, and take the initiative to ask questions to better understand conversational English.

2. Be open to receiving feedback in return.

3. You could also introduce new topics that might be of interest to your peers or share something funny to complement your opinion when appropriate.

4. It's natural to feel like you don't quite fit in with a particular group, especially if you don't share the same language or slang. Don't panic!

5. They might not understand your language or slang either, and that's perfectly okay as long as there is mutual respect in your interactions.

6. Furthermore, to achieve new goals, it's important to be open to changing your mindset or objectives multiple times.

7. While you are studying, be open to gaining new perspectives on life throughout your academic year.
   

Enjoy your time, my fellows!! ❤️

Silvia Rodrigues