Packing 18 years into a carry-on and a checked bag and moving to a new country is something that seemed impossible to me. Coming from a small country like Nicaragua and moving to the United States for school was a big and intimidating change. I went from a high school class of 38 people to a college class of over 2,000 students. I went from having my parents and brother down the hall to having them 2,045 miles away. I went from knowing everyone around my neighborhood to knowing no one at all. Luckily, as I start my fourth year at Notre Dame, I look back and realize I couldn't be more thankful for the people who have shaped my college experience. So, as an international student, here are some tips on how to build a support network while being so far away from home.
Your dorm is where it all starts!
I still remember the first night I ever slept in Ryan Hall. It was just me in the room because international move-in was earlier than the rest. I thought I was the only one in the entire building until another international student texted in the group chat saying she was locked out. I helped her get back in, and to this day, we’re still good friends! All the activities and experiences your dorm offers are a great way to get to know the people you’re living with. I can’t lie and say it wasn’t hard to talk to the other girls and make friends as an introvert, but you get to meet many students from different backgrounds and find some commonalities with them. Even though I live off-campus now, I still keep in touch with many of the Ryan girls and see them very often!
Clubs
Club fair week may sound overwhelming with the number of clubs and extracurriculars Notre Dame has, but take your time and stop by the stands to see what each one has to offer! You don’t have to enroll in every single club you stop by (trust me, it gets time-consuming the more you enroll in), but think about your interests or new hobbies that you might want to take up and give them a try! I’ve met many of my friends through clubs like the Latino Honor Society, and I’ve even made great connections for my career!
Get to know your major
Getting to know the students in your major is not only a great way to make friends but also extremely helpful in the long run. The friendships I’ve made in the architecture program are ones I’m sure will last a lifetime. Your major friends are the only ones who understand the workload and classes you take. From study groups to hangout sessions, they push you to do your best, just as you do for them. I could not imagine going through this career path without them, and I’m so fortunate to have such a tight-knit family in the School of Architecture!
Find your community
Last, but definitely not least, find your people! Homesickness hits harder when you’re away from everything familiar to you—from home-cooked meals to even speaking your first language. Everything feels new and unknown until you find people with similar experiences. I can confidently say that my Latino friend group is one of the greatest treasures this university has given me. I’ve found my best friends through getting to know the Latino community, which has truly been my biggest support network since I started college. As I like to put it, they are my little bits of home. It’s not as hard as you think to find your fellow international classmates. We are everywhere, and we bring such a great light and diversity to campus! It all starts with a “Where are you from?”
Being an international student at any university can be intimidating, but with one friend at a time, you start building your support network, and suddenly, you feel at home again, even if it’s not physically where you’re from.
Originally published by at admissions.nd.edu on September 16, 2024.