International Student Stories brought to you by Study in the USA

Anish Merchant often recounts “The Hero’s Journey” — the story of a hero who goes on a grand adventure to find where he or she belongs. Stories like this inspired Anish to leave the U.S. in pursuit of his own grand adventure — one that helped him find where he belonged: in Buenas Aires, Argentina. Rather than this signaling the end of his journey, it was the birth of a new one. Anish’s new calling took shape in the form of his comp...

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Maryam Esmat, a Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 honoree, returns for the second part of her interview. In this episode, Maryam shares the work she’s done for NASA by AURA on the James Webb Space Telescope, her current research on the topic of dark matter, and the rarity of Arabs in the physics realm. 

Join us to hear how Maryam is mentoring the next generation and paving the way for students looking to follow in her foot...

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Maryam Esmat’s 24 years of life have played out like a greatest hits album. She’s graced the pages of Forbes Middle East 30 Under 30 for her work in astrophysics and donned the title of the youngest published author in the Middle East — yet, if you ask her where we are in her life’s story, she’d tell you we’ve only read the prologue. Maryam is currently pursuing her PhD at Johns Hopkins University, and if that’s any in...

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Danny Nguyen returns for Part 2 of his two-part interview. In this episode, Danny shares his optimistic outlook for the future of international students and the importance of elevating student voices. Despite his optimism, he sees areas for improvement, particularly in accounting for the experiences of international students. Join Simon and Danny as they discuss the state of job prospecting, the weight of comparison, a...

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1977 — In a year remembered for the “Fall of Saigon,” and “Black April,” Danny Nguyen and his family were caught in the middle of a war-torn Vietnam. Call it courage or call it desperation — Danny’s parents wanted a better life for their five children, and if that meant sailing out into the dark, cold ocean to find it, then so be it. The VP of Administrative Services at Mission College you see today is in stark contras...

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Jessie Gentles is the 3%. The world of IT has thrived as a highly-lucrative, high-growth industry — but the caveat? You’re not going to find many Black women crowding in to become the next IT specialist. As a Jamaican-born woman and software engineering student at Miami University, Jessie represents a demographic that’s shied away from IT — one that’s representing only 3% of the IT space, but she’s not alone. ...

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Paige Steffy returns for Part 2 of a two-part interview. In this episode, Paige reflects on themes that follow every international student on their journey; hope, empathy, and connection. She’s walked the walk of an international student, and now she’s walking beside them on their student journey as part of Unibuddy. Join us to hear how Paige envisions the future of international students. 

Episode Summary 

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The magic of Harry Potter captivated a generation of dreamers and stood as a gateway to another world; for one Paige Steffy, it was also a glimpse into her future. Paige graduated from UC Davis with a double major in psychology and Spanish, then worked in the admissions office at Willamette University. Her next adventure wasn’t quite Hogwarts, but, for her Master's program, Paige moved to the U.K. and attended Roy...

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Juliana Pereira returns for Part 2 of a two-part interview. In this episode, Juliana talks about her career as a Geotechnical Engineer who’s carrying the weight of purpose for women in STEM — and that’s not even her greatest challenge. Juliana was diagnosed with uterine cancer just a few years ago, and her most daunting opponent has taught her that life waits for no one. Juliana’s never been one to accept her circumsta...

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Juliana Pereira is a trailblazer; raised by a single mother in Florianópolis, Brazil, she learned at an early age that there’s nothing women can’t do. She began college at the age of 16 and quickly earned her degree in journalism. Her desire to impact the world led her to forego that degree in pursuit of civil engineering. The journey that ensued saw her traveling to five countries, with Juliana making a last...

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Rezarta Mataj had already achieved a great deal in her career at a  young age — a federal judge by the age of 24, a lovely family soon after, and the accolades to be an adjunct professor at public and private law schools all across Albania. There was one caveat, however; she couldn’t rid herself of the thought that she’d be able to build a better life for herself and her family in the U.S. Rezarta took a leap of faith,...

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Luisa Wiewgorra joins us for Part 2 of her two-part interview. In this episode, Luisa reflects on her most memorable experiences studying journalism, and the doors that were opened during her time at Madonna University. It’s one thing to dream, but another to see your dreams become reality. Join us to hear how Luisa is living out her dream of being an honorary reporter on television! 

Episode Summary

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Introduction 

Luisa Wiewgorra dreamed of one day working as a news reporter or TV anchor. It was her talent in volleyball, however, that would open the door for her to chase her dream. Born and raised in Potsdam, Germany, Luisa worked hard to become an accomplished volleyball player which led her to receiving an athletic scholarship from Madonna University. In Part 1 of our 2-part interview, Luisa opens up about her life in Germany,...

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Bwejua Fachano returns for Part 2 of his two-part interview. In this episode, Bwejua joins us as we do a retrospective of his last three songs; ‘Fade’, ‘Father Father', and ‘Waylon Smithers’. These songs touch on heavy themes including life, death, and depression. In those defining moments, Bwejua could have sunk under the weight of expectation. That’s not who Bwejua is, however, and it’s why he’s found renew...

INTRODUCTION 

Bwejua Fachano is a lot of things; he’s a talented musician, a cancer survivor, and an international student - but more than that, he’s a dreamer. Through his journey from Abuja, Nigeria to being months away from graduating from Los Angeles City College, Bwejua’s experiences reflect that of a man who dares to dream. Bwejua and Simon explore topics of friendship, family, spirituality, and love, in part one of their two-...

Valeria Rivera returns for Part 2 of her two-part interview. In this episode, we delve into Valeria’s love of art, the inspiration she’s taken from her experiences, and the people who have influenced her outlook on art as well as life. We also discuss the unique challenges facing international students in their job search. Although she’s still early in her career, the impact she’s been able to have is only a sign of the incredible ...

Valeria Rivera personifies the growth you can experience by stepping out of your comfort zone. Her origins brought her from San Salvador, El Salvador, to now being one semester away from graduating with her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Commercial Design from Lycoming College. She’s transformed from a shy international student who just moved to the U.S. to a bold, confident, and creative spirit. She’s found her v...

Duc Pham returns for Part 2 of a two-part interview. In this episode, Duc talks about his experience going from community college student to college professor. The unique insights he was able to obtain through his experiences have helped him understand that the journey through higher education doesn’t follow a single pathway. Learn about the differences between community college and university, and Duc’s perspective on navigating t...

Duc Pham is building upon a legacy inspired by generosity. His story began in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and continued through his studies at Santa Rosa Junior College, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree and PhD from Cornell University. Duc is now an assistant professor at Santa Monica College, passing forward the gift of education to the next generation of students. What inspired his journey from student to teacher? Well, it a...