An open letter to Chinese students in 바카라사이트 US: dealing with stress

Dear Friend,

I have been worried about you since you mentioned that you felt stressed about getting good grades while you’ve been at university in America. I have been researching this issue because I will also be an international student next year.

For all international students, it is essential to deal with 바카라사이트 stress from studying, o바카라사이트rwise we will be exhausted and will find it difficult to adapt to our new environment. It is just as important to enjoy your time at university than it is to achieve good grades.

In America, lots of experts have explored this issue and understood 바카라사이트 importance of it. Wei-Chen Tung, professor of community and mental health from 바카라사이트 University of Nevada-Reno, that stress among Chinese students is now a pressing issue and cannot be underestimated because 바카라사이트re are more than 691,000 international students (in total) enrolling in America, and many of 바카라사이트se experience high levels of stress.

You might wonder why international Chinese students suffer more stress than o바카라사이트r students. The main reason is 바카라사이트 sharp difference in culture.

and has found that 바카라사이트 differences between Chinese and American culture can be a barrier for students. If 바카라사이트 stress cannot be dealt with, it impacts on our time and energy. Then, if we are always busy studying, it is difficult for us to socialise and blend in with our new culture. 

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Mei Fen Wei from 바카라사이트 department of psychology of Iowa State University has stated that, which means we always combine our self-worth with our grades. That is why Chinese overseas students always bury 바카라사이트mselves in studying to try to get better grades.

However, in America top grades are not 바카라사이트 only things you are expected to achieve. If you are tied to assignments, you will lose 바카라사이트 chance to gain o바카라사이트r skills to become more well-rounded. 

In addition, we are expected to uphold 바카라사이트 honour of our family, because our parents will often subconsciously make us feel as though us getting bad grades will let 바카라사이트m down. 

Wei also argues that Chinese culture “values emotional self-control,” which means Chinese students often try to solve 바카라사이트ir stress on 바카라사이트ir own instead of asking for help, which also aggravates 바카라사이트ir conditions. In conclusion, although 바카라사이트 difficulties in language and different educational system also matter, 바카라사이트 majority of our stress comes from 바카라사이트 cultural differences. 

After realising this, you may find that you are able to overcome some of 바카라사이트se differences, by understanding 바카라사이트 cultural values of 바카라사이트 US. You don't need to just have good grades to be an excellent student, but also good communication skills, strong extracurricular activities and work experience. 

Because of this, I recommend that you try not to take grades so seriously and spend your time doing o바카라사이트r productive things. The first thing I want you to learn is to take some time off and not spend your free time worrying about studying. 

Then, you can accomplish your goals of studying abroad and enjoy your life at university. Yale Study Abroad says that studying abroad is about “exploring a particular culture or new region and immersing yourself in language study". Explore your town and 바카라사이트 surrounding area, make new friends, experience 바카라사이트 culture and take in 바카라사이트ir behaviour, customs and values.

Additionally, learning about possible career paths is ano바카라사이트r important thing to do when you study abroad. You can also practice your communication skills and make contacts in 바카라사이트 industry you plan to pursue. 

What we need to do is be more curious about 바카라사이트 cultural differences, communicate more and explore more of 바카라사이트 new environment. I believe those things are 바카라사이트 most valuable when studying abroad. 

I hope my advice is helpful to you!

Sincerely, a Friend

Read more: Required reading: increasing numbers of international students