(Not) Far from Home
Speech for the International Scholar and Student Services Update: An Inclusive and Engaged Campus
Hi everyone!
I'm excited to share with you the speech I delivered at the International Student and Scholar Services Campus Partner Forum. The focus was on internationalizing the approaches at the University of Minnesota to better include and engage the campus community. Enjoy the reading!
Good morning, everyone!
I hope the spirit of the new 2024 year brings us good health and wisdom as we are going through this Spring semester. My name is Ivo Ribeiro, and I use He/Him pronouns. Coming from the beautiful island country of Timor-Leste in Southeast Asia, I am currently navigating my second semester at the U, studying Economics as a sponsored and transferred student.
My journey began on August 10th last Fall. Transitioning from a small country to living and studying in a big new country is definitely not an easy step. I experienced both feelings at the same time: happiness at being blessed to study at a top public research university, let alone in the United States. And the other feeling, which I am sure most international students would resonate with, is the feeling of fear of being alone and lonely when adapting to a new culture and living environment.
Additionally, given that I am a transfer student, this means two things: (1) I had to coordinate closely with my home university, João Saldanha University, and the University of Minnesota to have my courses reviewed for transferability, and (2) I had to study a lot harder to be able to keep up with my new learning environment at the U.
As a sponsored student, I also need to fulfill certain requirements. For example: (1) Meeting a 3.0 GPA per semester and (2) Complete 20 hours of volunteering per academic year.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to encourage the University leadership and administration to continue to be open, understanding, and more importantly reachable. In my experience, having at least a university official that I can feel connected to talk to and count on is simply more than enough. Unlike local students that come here who know the context very well, international students, on the other hand, arrive at the U with very little knowledge about the context and culture. We almost know nobody. I think the very first people we come to contact are the university officials, particularly from the ISSS team. It is then critically important to establish friendly connections with students during the very first time to help us feel “not far from home.”
As time progressed, I found my footing in the education community. Whenever I face academic challenges, I know how and where to reach out to the University’s resources. I spent significant time, especially in my first semester, studying at Wilson and Magrath Library. I love the fact that I can reserve a personal space; it simply helps boost my concentration and productivity. Further, I also seek help from Professors and TAs, and involving myself in the St. Lawrence’s Newman Center, played a crucial role in my adjustment to life at the U.
The U’s education community has equipped me with tools that little by little help me embrace and overcome the fears I once had. I started to grow and take myself out of my comfort zone. Today, I am part of the U First Year Leadership Institute, a premier leadership development opportunity where I engage with my US peers on leadership views and participate in discussions on social issues. As a non-US person, being involved in the leadership opportunity is such a rewarding experience. By interacting in friendly conversation and participating in constructive discussion where we all are encouraged to look not only from our own perspectives, but also the views from people that have very different backgrounds from ours, enable me more to understand the concept of global citizenship. Despite that we all are different, yet we speak the same language: a language of “seeking to understand then to be understood.”
Additionally, I joined the International Buddy Program. I was paired with a local senior student, who not only helps me academically and my transition at the U, but is also a friend who loves to listen. I found it beneficial and now I continue to participate, but this time as a mentor. I want to pay it forward to my international colleagues or incoming international students.
Moreover, I am so humbled to have recently been accepted to take part in my Economics Department's Career Exploration Tour in DC during the upcoming Spring break. I am grateful for this incredible opportunity to connect with economists working in different professional fields and learn from them how to put economic concepts and tools in real life, particularly in addressing pressing social issues.
I would like to end my speech today by acknowledging that I am still constantly learning. I face setbacks and sometimes struggle with college life – but at least I know I am not alone! I now have several friends and colleagues who are willing to offer me a hand. I also know how to use university resources – where to go to study and seek assistance, and even consult about my health. Reflecting on my days at the U, I see an essential factor that stands out and that establishes such a solid foundation in my transition at the U: the relationship of mutual and reciprocal respect that I have with the ISSS. Knowing that I have a friend walking alongside me on this journey helps me go above and beyond. I would argue that when a person feels connected and welcome, they will naturally find their own ways to grow and flourish.
Thank you.
You're killing it Ivo!