More than School
More than School
Maximizing your experience in the United States
Almost all international students pursuing studies in the United States experience a change in some form. It could be cultural, social, physical, environmental, spiritual, psychological, etc. The varying levels of change for each of these categories depends on the person. Emphasis should be on gathering awareness and knowledge about what you’re stepping into so you can view your experience through an informed lens. Here are a few things I believe could be useful for you to know and consider during your time away from home.
Responsibility Shock
We come prepared with all sorts of planning: what courses to take, what projects to do, what hobbies to pursue, what fashion to follow, and much more. We quickly learn that things don’t always turn out the way we expect them to. It’s important to give yourself grace and be patient when things don’t turn out the way you want, and remember there is a certain beauty in uncertainty. Don’t overstress when making decisions and have faith that all will turn out the way it’s supposed to. Decisions like choosing an advisor and forming friendships will inevitably happen, why not let it be an enjoyable experience?
Adulting
Adulting
“to carry out one or more of the duties and responsibilities expected of fully developed individuals”
This is an all encompassing word to describe most students’ stage of life when they come to pursue education away from home. Urban dictionary defines adulting as carrying “out one or more duties and responsibilities as fully developed individuals”. Their purpose could be to finish up the desired degree with exceptional class and graduate, leading to other career goals. However we shouldn’t ignore that many other things develop along the way:
We gain more independence through the freedom given to us and choices we are left with. Most choices are now up to us decide and we rarely receive the help we are used to by our family and loved ones.
We tend to form strong and long-lasting opinions about what we believe and why we believe them.
We are at a risk of living in a bubble, often surrounded by people who are just like us. This feels normal and comfortable, but could definitely inhibit our growth.
Here are some practical ways to make “adulting” more enjoyable and purposeful:
Intentionally try to connect with more diverse communities – It could mean forming friends with different ethnic backgrounds or different nationalities. It could be partnering with or co-authoring with someone for a project or paper who has broader skillset.
Build yourself a well-rounded resume – This might seem like obvious career advice. But make yourself into a person with skills that don’t just pertain to your degree or your future job; instead learn team building, better communicational skills, and taking initiatives in little things. Work on building your personality and relational skills, not just a technical portfolio.
Don’t make compromising decisions that impact your physical and mental health. There are few more important things than a healthy mind-body relationship. Accomplishing short and long term goals rely on these things.
Ask advice from non-teaching professors and elders you come across who are not related to your field. Many of them know what it’s like to live in the real world and can give practical knowledge.
Have a positive mindset and surround yourself with positive people. This can be challenging but it is definitely worth the work.
Overall, make your time in the United States an experience you’d want to reminisce on when you are older. Don’t look at life as just a race you want to win. Slow down and truly enjoy all the moments no matter how stressful or difficult they are.
SAI CHAND UPPUTURI • INDIA
Sai move to Memphis from India in 2015 to pursue his Master’s degree in Computer Science at University of Memphis. He quickly gravitated toward the cultural uniqueness and history of Memphis. This led him to stay in the city and actively build relationships in local community. Sai currently works in Information Technology for a manufacturing company. He has a plethora of interests with his active lifestyle. He loves CrossFit, powerlifting, rowing marathons, hiking, rucking, backpacking, cooking, and riding motorcyles. He says that V.I.S.A. is and will always be an incredible part of his life. That it has provided an opportunity to meet new kinds of people and help nurture his interest in being a global citizen.
