We're excited to feature Student Voices, our blog series that brings unique student perspectives to our blog. From academic challenges to tech-driven success stories, hear directly from students about the tools, strategies, and experiences shaping their education. Stay tuned for inspiring insights!
Embracing Change, Building Confidence, and Finding Belonging Abroad
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
The night before my flight to the United States, I sat in my room in the Dominican Republic surrounded by everything familiar, the sounds of my neighborhood, my mother's voice in the next room, the life I had always known. I was about to leave all of it behind for a country I had never lived in, a campus I had never seen, and a future I could only hope for. I knew this opportunity could change my life, but knowing that didn't make stepping onto that plane any easier.
One of the hardest parts of studying far from home is realizing how much the little things matter. I remember my first holiday away from my family, knowing they were celebrating together back in the Dominican Republic while I was thousands of miles away, still finding my footing. That was the moment the weight of the decision truly settled in. But throughout that journey, my faith gave me a foundation to stand on. Before coming to the United States, I spent a lot of time praying about this decision. I didn't know exactly what the future would look like, but I trusted that the right doors were opening. Looking back, I can see how certain people, opportunities, and experiences appeared at exactly the right moments, and that sense of direction helped me keep moving forward even when things felt uncertain.
Adjusting to a New System
Adjusting to college life in a new country means learning more than just academic material. As an international student, I also had to learn how to navigate completely new systems. This included course registration, understanding academic expectations, and building a support network from scratch. At times, it felt overwhelming. But over time, those challenges became some of my greatest opportunities for growth.
One of the most meaningful parts of that growth has been stepping into leadership roles within student organizations. When I first took on those positions, I didn't feel completely ready. Leadership in college often starts that way. You say yes to an opportunity, and then you grow into the responsibility. Through those experiences, I learned how to collaborate with different personalities, organize events under pressure, manage responsibilities, and show up for other students navigating their own difficult seasons. Those roles pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but they also helped me discover strengths I didn't know I had.
Working in the registrar's office as a director's assistant gave me a different kind of education entirely. Most students only interact with the registrar when something goes wrong — a registration issue, a missing transcript, a records question. But working behind the scenes, I began to see how much coordination and care goes into supporting students every single day. I remember watching a colleague spend over an hour carefully resolving a complex transfer credit situation for a student who had no idea how much effort was going into it. That moment stayed with me. Higher education is full of people doing quiet, essential work to keep students on track. Seeing that side of things gave me a deep appreciation for the systems and people that make student success possible.
Finding Community and Growth
Beyond academics and leadership, finding community has been one of the most important parts of my college journey. Being involved in faith-based student groups helped me build real relationships and feel less alone during the moments when being far from home felt the heaviest. Those spaces became places where students could encourage each other, share struggles, and remind one another why we started this journey in the first place.
College has also taught me that it's okay not to have everything figured out. When I arrived, I felt pressure to already have a clear plan. But the truth is that college is a time of becoming. Students are not only working toward a degree, but they are also discovering their identity, building independence, and learning to trust themselves in real time. For higher education leaders, that reality matters deeply. Students are managing far more than coursework. They are also navigating personal growth, cultural transitions, financial pressures, and a future that may still feel uncertain. Providing intentional opportunities for mentorship, leadership, and community, particularly for international students learning to navigate new systems, can make a defining difference in whether a student struggles in silence or finds their footing and thrives.
What This Experience Taught Me
Looking back, coming to the United States was never just about earning a degree. It was about becoming someone I could not have grown into had I stayed where everything was comfortable. Leaving the Dominican Republic shaped my resilience, my independence, and my sense of purpose in ways I am still discovering.
And sometimes, finding your path begins the moment you choose to trust the unknown — and take the step anyway.
