We will all perceive how tough it’s to go away your family members behind, whether or not you might be from Texas or someplace abroad. Regardless of what number of miles away you might be from your private home, it’s by no means straightforward to go away your consolation zone.
Beginning school is a brand new step into the unknown for everybody. The challenges and hardships we face are explicit to our particular person experiences and form who we’re. The options now we have encountered are a mirrored image of how every of us chooses to take care of our feelings and issues, and that’s what retains us transferring ahead.
Earlier than speaking about our undertaking, allow us to introduce ourselves.
Gabrielle Caumon, France
Being a world pupil comes with baggage solely folks transferring to a brand new nation, a brand new tradition, perceive. I’m from Paris, France, and I got here alone to the U.S. Not as a result of I needed to, however as a result of my household needed to keep house for work. On high of that, I didn’t converse English, and barely handed the English Duolingo examination.
Once I first arrived on campus, I might barely perceive anybody. I keep in mind registering for my room, speaking with three poor hand gestures. Because the entrance desk individual didn’t hand me a key, I assumed I couldn’t get into my dorm but and walked round campus to kill time — whereas the door was open all alongside. I felt like an outsider, attempting to ask round for assist. In misery and abandon, mendacity on campus grass, I known as my mother 8,000 kilometers away (4,971 miles), questioning if I made a mistake by coming to the U.S. I’m extraordinarily near my household, and being with out them felt like part of me stayed again house. At that second, I simply needed to be with them.
I traveled so much with my household, exposing me to many cultures from an early age and shaping my imaginative and prescient of on a regular basis life. Nevertheless, once I packed my baggage to check within the U.S., it was like nothing I had ever skilled earlier than. I didn’t know what Orientation Week was, so I missed it, together with the prospect to satisfy different newcomers. Nobody advised me, and in the event that they did, I by no means understood. Then got here lessons, the place I couldn’t perceive what my professors had been saying. I recorded them for my stepdad to translate for me. He would keep up late to assist me. I underestimated coming to America. I used to be not ready sufficient. I labored more durable whereas the impact of the space hit me like a slap within the face.
Now? I’m the Life & Arts Editor of my college’s student-led newspaper, I bought the prospect to be in 5 performs, I’m fluent in English, I bought nominated for an Austin theater award and I made wonderful connections. I’m so pleased with what freshman Gabrielle has completed, and I can guarantee you that it wasn’t a foregone conclusion. I’ve been via exhausting occasions, I’ve felt alone, I’ve had dangerous encounters and experiences, however I’ve at all times picked myself up — and I couldn’t have performed it with out the help of my mates, professors and household.
After three and a half years, I really feel like my coronary heart is split between two cultures, with an ocean as a separation. I name Austin “going house” and Paris my hometown. And what I assumed could be insurmountable is about to come back to an finish.
Anna Pratts, Brazil
I’m a world pupil from Brazil. My life modified in August of 2022, once I made the exhausting resolution to go away my household behind and transfer the world over. Again then, I had by no means set foot in Texas, a lot much less on the St. Edward’s College campus. I knew nobody, however I used to be fortunate sufficient to be accustomed to the language, use my extroverted character in my favor and have my mother by my facet to assist me get settled into my dorm. The primary moments had been nice. I felt like I used to be making mates and getting efficiently used to my new actuality, nevertheless it was all a facade.
As quickly as my mother left to return house, the reality began to sink in: I used to be fully alone and didn’t know what to do. My first couple of months of faculty are a blur, and I’ve barely any recollection of it due to the a number of weeks through which all I’d do was cry and surprise: “What have I performed?” I stored pondering that I had made the flawed resolution, that I ought to have by no means moved away and that I’d by no means be the identical once more. The latter is the one a part of my unique issues that turned out to be true, however for the higher slightly than for the more serious — one thing I’d solely come to seek out out later in my journey, and one thing that I’m now extraordinarily grateful for.
After being right here for 2 and a half years, I can confidently say that coming right here is the perfect resolution I’ve ever made. I nonetheless miss my household and mates — now greater than ever, truly — however I do know that being here’s what is finest for me, and I noticed that my time right here taught me issues I’d have by no means realized if I had by no means made this life altering resolution. Shifting away from your loved ones, your private home and mates is rarely straightforward. These first moments had been undoubtedly the toughest factor I’ve ever gone via, however I’d not commerce the non-public progress, the brand new connections and experiences for the rest.
I’m a distinct individual than once I left: way more assured, impartial and grateful for the alternatives that my household and the hilltop have given me. Once I first bought right here, I didn’t count on that so many nice issues would have come from it, however I’m glad they did. I’ve made lifelong mates, found my ardour, helped incoming college students that had been going via the identical issues as me two years in the past, and made a reputation for myself. I’m pleased with how far I’ve come, and I’m past blissful to name the hilltop my house. If it had not been for the assistance I acquired, the coping mechanisms I developed and for the help system I’ve had via the years, I’d not have made it this far — however I’m grateful I did.
Our objective
Hilltop Views acquired a grant from the Solutions Journalism Network as a part of the 2024-2025 Pupil Media Problem to publish tales that function options to our issues, with the frequent theme being targeted on psychological well being.
The options journalism framework goes past addressing present problems with our society, by discovering options to them. It encourages a hopeful outlook on points that always appear unattainable to repair, supplies responses and perception on how options connect with the bigger situation, and since there isn’t a good resolution, the restrictions of the response.
St. Edward’s College is house to 245 worldwide college students, and we really feel it is very important handle present points with the intention to spotlight options that may assist college students and their psychological well being. To have an concept, the U.S. counts greater than 1.1 million international students in 2023-2024, of which 80,757 are in Texas.
We’re planning on writing a sequence of articles centered across the totally different points worldwide college students face, the assets accessible on and off campus, in addition to responses designed to help this pupil group.
Cowl Picture: Anna Pratts (left) and Gabrielle Caumon (proper) holding the flags of their respective nations in entrance of St. Edward’s College Primary Constructing. As worldwide college students and aspiring journalists, they see the Options Journalism grant as a chance to make clear the expertise and challenges of learning overseas.
SJN: Embracing international students’ experiences, seeking solutions to common challenges was first revealed on the Hill High Views, and was republished with permission.
A part of the Latino Information Community’s mission is to amplify the work of others in presenting options journalism tales.
