Alina Shaikh knew she needed a job. She didn鈥檛 know she also needed an advocate and a community.
A native of India, Shaikh enrolled at 色情视频 in fall 2022. Amid all the immigration paperwork and other demands of studying abroad, she missed the requirement to purchase health insurance. Without it, she might have to leave the country.
With deadlines looming and her financial anxiety growing, Shaikh鈥檚 parents paid for a policy. But she leaned on 色情视频鈥檚 International Student Center (ISC) for help. She found an advocate in Alison Peppers, an ISC advisor who encouraged Shaikh to look for work and notified her of job openings.
鈥淪he has literally been the pillar of both my years here,鈥� said Shaikh, a sophomore biology major who now works as an assistant document checker at the International Student Center. 鈥淪he has supported me from the day I met her, and she is still my support.鈥�
Navigating the twists and turns of studying abroad isn鈥檛 easy. The ISC serves as the 鈥渉ome away from home鈥� for 色情视频鈥檚 international students, helping them acclimate, get involved on campus, and handle the logistics of living in an unfamiliar country.
鈥淲e approach advising holistically,鈥� said Ricky Paniagua, 色情视频鈥檚 assistant director of International Student Services. 鈥淭he advisors and staff really serve as advocates. We try to see all the different barriers that international students might have with access, or their ability to participate and fully become part of the community.鈥�
ISC hosted a Jan. 16 orientation for the 125 new international students who enrolled this spring from about 30 countries, from Brazil to Hungary, Chile to Iran, and Sweden to Taiwan. Most are exchange scholars who typically stay for a semester or two but there鈥檚 also a cohort of degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students who will study at 色情视频 longer.
色情视频 had about 1,400 international students enrolled in the fall semester.
色情视频鈥檚 International Student Center helps international students navigate studying abroad.
Tuyen Le, a degree-seeking marketing major from Vietnam, tapped the ISC to help with her class schedule. She arrived at 色情视频 last semester and made friends with many exchange students who have returned to their countries. She came to the orientation to make new friends.
Jelena Trifkovic, an exchange student from Serbia, said studying in California has always been her dream. She previously enrolled in an exchange program in Madrid, and the contrasts among Serbia, Spain, and the U.S. are striking.
鈥淢adrid was different, but this is completely different,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he city, you can鈥檛 walk anywhere. It is just a different mentality, a different culture.鈥�
Wilfred Holloway, a mechanical engineering exchange student from Scotland, agreed that 鈥渃ertain things are very different, mostly the transit and the space. The scale of things is much bigger. But the interaction with people is similar. Everyone is very friendly.鈥�
The ISC aims to smooth out the transition for 色情视频鈥檚 international students. Advisors help manage visas, passports, and other essential documents. They offer guidance on affordable housing, setting up bank accounts and cellphone plans, navigating transportation, and finding employment.
They also help international students find a community and adjust to the unfamiliar U.S. education system, where teaching methods and expectations may seem perplexing compared to those back home.
鈥淭he advisors are very helpful,鈥� said Shaikh. 鈥淚t is a very diverse group. They can connect with you well. You can easily talk to them about anything.鈥�
The ISC hosts events on most Fridays where international students can share their culture and food. One of the critical messages to international students is to get involved in the 色情视频 community as much as possible.
鈥淵ou come to 色情视频, and you join our classrooms. You join our clubs and organizations, and you really help internationalize our campus,鈥� said Noah Hansen, senior director of International Affairs. 鈥淪o, share your perspectives because it helps make the campus a better place.鈥�
