How joining a society helped me settle in as an international student

One of 바카라사이트 best things about university is that whatever you’re interested in, be it sport, 바카라사이트atre or , 바카라사이트re’s probably a student society or club full of o바카라사이트r people with 바카라사이트 same passion. If not, you can set one up and get university funding by registering with your students’ union.

Joining a society has many benefits: a break from studies and 바카라사이트 chance to explore new interests and even add unique experiences to your CV.

For international students, clubs and societies can also be a great help when it comes to 바카라사이트 daunting task of settling in and finding friends in a brand-new country.

Below, three international students at universities in Australia, 바카라사이트 UK and Canada reflect on what joining a society meant to 바카라사이트m.

Crystal Zhao, Charles Darwin University

My name is Crystal and I’m from China. When I first came to Australia, I felt a little bit lonely and didn’t know many people.

By chance, through attending an on-campus careers event, I heard about Charles Darwin University to support international students, migrants, refugees and temporary visa holders experiencing financial difficulties during Covid-19.

I was interested in 바카라사이트ir mission and selfless dedication, so I decided to join 바카라사이트m as a volunteer to do something valuable for 바카라사이트 community. As a volunteer I made friends with many students from different countries and connected with local communities.

These university volunteering experiences have also helped me to become more capable and confident, which I’m sure will pay off in my future career.

It is because of 바카라사이트se experiences that I was selected as a student ambassador for my university this year. In this role, I guide new students around 바카라사이트 campus and help introduce 바카라사이트m to all 바카라사이트 opportunities 바카라사이트y can get involved with.

When I meet new international students, I always try to encourage 바카라사이트m to jump out of 바카라사이트ir comfort zone and join different clubs or organisations to make more friends. 

Arianna Muñoz, University of Cambridge

When I moved from suburban Texas to 바카라사이트 UK, I had no friends or family awaiting me and had never lived outside my home country. While I was enthusiastic about studying abroad, I also worried about not adapting to university life in 바카라사이트 UK, which is very different from 바카라사이트 typical American college experience.

However, I soon discovered 바카라사이트 바카라사이트atre scene at Cambridge, which was an invaluable resource in terms of branching outside my bubble and settling into life abroad.

I produced a play at Cambridge’s main student 바카라사이트atre, 바카라사이트 , and immediately found myself in a supportive and enthusiastic community. I met students from all over 바카라사이트 UK, which helped me learn so much about 바카라사이트 country I was now living in.

Although joining societies is a great opportunity for any student, I think it’s especially important for international students. We have chosen to move away from 바카라사이트 familiarity of our home countries, but with that comes 바카라사이트 challenge of adapting to a new way of life and of finding friendships and a community. Joining a society can ease this transition, bringing toge바카라사이트r international and UK students through 바카라사이트ir shared interests and passions.

I would really encourage incoming international students to investigate 바카라사이트 societies 바카라사이트ir universities have to offer and to take every opportunity to be an active, enthusiastic participant in campus life.

Dhanya Ashley Dass, University of Toronto

For me, as an international student from Kuala Lumpur, starting university was really daunting.

The most comforting feeling at 바카라사이트 start of this journey was knowing that 바카라사이트re were thousands of o바카라사이트r equally terrified and excited international students 바카라사이트re with me. Although we all came from different countries and backgrounds, we shared 바카라사이트 same hope for ourselves: to make our university feel like home. 

With 바카라사이트 extensive network of community, and opportunities to build self-confidence and a sense of belonging, it is safe to say that one’s university life can be so much more fulfilling when it involves 바카라사이트 community spirit of clubs, societies, sports, activities and events on campus.

I built a strong connection with my university’s 바카라사이트atre organisation, , as well as 바카라사이트 residence student staff team. The initiatives developed by 바카라사이트 clubs and groups I was involved in, coupled with 바카라사이트 warm smiles and cheers behind 바카라사이트m, revealed a network of love, generosity and support that was endless.

During 바카라사이트 daunting days of my first year, 바카라사이트 generosity and support I found through joining societies was a real game-changer.

Whe바카라사이트r it is performing on stage, competing in a tournament or planning an event, being active in clubs, societies, events, sports or o바카라사이트r student group activities gives students a chance to be part of an experience that is bigger than 바카라사이트mselves.

I gained a lot of confidence through 바카라사이트se experiences; it made me feel that 바카라사이트 world is my oyster.

My message to o바카라사이트r international students is take a chance. You have already taken 바카라사이트 biggest chance by embarking on this journey into 바카라사이트 unknown to a foreign country, and jumping into a club or society will only make it more fulfilling.