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Guiding “Global U”

Dear colleagues,

As we wade into a new school year, I find myself struck by the privilege of new beginnings–the air alive with excitement as we take what we know into fresh chapters and prepare ourselves to receive new lessons.

After joining the Office for Global Engagement in late June, I’ve been immersed in this listening and learning phase all summer. I want to thank those of you who have reached out to welcome me to the U. I also appreciate those who have been generous with their knowledge of what is working well and what is still needed.

OGE, Learning Abroad, and International Students & Scholars will be working together to integrate this knowledge into how we serve our campus community and global partners. This letter offers an opportunity to share three principles that will guide that work:

1) We believe international engagement is at the core of a university’s work.
“Global” is sometimes spoken as a specific thing separate and apart from other University activities. I believe it to be an integral part of a University of Utah education–an all-encompassing state of mind that allows us to navigate and contribute to our modern world.

2) We are student-centered.
Whenever we embark upon a new initiative, our impulse will be to ask “how is this going to impact students?” We will strive to create global experiences that enhance their understanding of the world and prepare them well for life after campus.

3) We take equity, diversity, and inclusion seriously.
These principles require the cultivation of awareness, dedication, intentionality, and proactiveness. We shall continue to increase access for underserved groups while being mindful to never leave any community behind. We are also uniquely positioned to architect international opportunities diverse in geography and discipline.

I will be working closely with my team over the fall semester to enhance our office’s structure and ability to support these principles.

I’d like to invite you to reach out to me directly to Brian’s email: b.gibson@utah.edu, if you have a question about how the concept of “Global U” fits into your unit; we are eager to provide assistance, connection, and thought-partnership.

I have been impressed by our community’s desire to engage internationally and look forward to working with you all.

Toward an even more Global U,

Brian Gibson

 

International Alumni: Muhammad Aiman Arashid

International Alumni Profile
Muhammad Aiman Arashid
Malaysia

ISSS recently launched an International Alumni Survey to connect with international alumni from all over the world, discover the amazing things they’ve accomplished since finishing their degree, and gather their advice to incoming international students about how to have a successful and enjoyable experience at the U.

Today we introduce you to Muhammad Aiman Arashid, a 2018 graduate from Malaysia. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and now works as a lab technician at US Magnesium. In the fall of 2021, Arashid will head back to the U to begin his master’s studies in Occupational Health with an emphasis in Industrial Hygiene. Read on to learn more about his experience.

Muhammad Aiman Arashid

Why did you choose to study at the University of Utah?
The University of Utah chemistry program ranks in Top 100 Chemistry Schools in the United States. The U also is located in the heart of Salt Lake City which is beautiful and is my favourite place in Utah.

How did your experience at the University of Utah help prepare you for your future career goals?
The University of Utah have shaped me to become a well-rounded person by providing a balance between studies and social life through variety of classes and social events. My time at the U of U Chemistry Department also helped me so much by giving me early exposure of a lot of instruments that I am using right now in the chemical industry.

The U held multiple career fairs every year which help me to put myself out there to employers even when I was still a freshman. Those experiences of being able to meet the recruiters every year is so valuable to me especially during job interviews. I was able to improve my communication and build confidence in myself.

Did you have a mentor, teacher or other staff member at the University of Utah who inspired you?
I look up very much to Dr. Peter B. Armentrout. He is the Henry Eyring Presidential Endowed Chair of Chemistry. I look up to him because he is a person who is very successful in his career, takes care of his health and is a very humble, kind person who always helps others. Dr. Armentrout has always encouraged me to keep going even though I was having a hard time during my studies. My time working under his research group also increased my knowledge, gave me experiences in using new instruments and allowed me to see what a graduate student life is like as I got to work with them.

What is one thing you learned at the University of Utah that you will never forget?
That you should never ever gave up on yourself. There is always a solution or alternative and you just have to look for it. Let people know that you need help and there will be someone out there who is ready and willing to help.

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing your professional career?
Experience is the key. Keep learning and take the chance to use all the laboratory instruments available during your studies. Internship experience will also help you to prepare yourself for the chemical industry since you get to know first-hand the importance of accuracy of laboratory results in real life. It matters to the point that it could affect someone’s life if it is done wrong.

What was your favorite class at the U of U, and why?
Expository Wrtg for EAS (EAS 1060). I got to meet all other international students from all over the world and the class improved my writing significantly thanks to Melissa who is an amazing teacher.

What was your favorite place you visited in Utah, and why?
Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort. I got the chills every time I started at the top of mountain route before snowboarding. The view is always breathtaking and snowboarding is exhilarating.

…

Are you a former international student at the U? Click here to fill out the International Alumni Survey, and ISSS could feature your alumni story on their website, newsletters, and social media!

New Chief Global Officer Named

Brian Gibson

University of Utah Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Dan Reed announced Brian Gibson has been named the university’s new chief global officer. 

Gibson, a noted leader of internationalization and global engagement efforts, joins the U after most recently serving as executive director of George Mason University’s Global Education Office. He will assume his new role July 1 and will be working both on campus and remotely until students return for the Fall semester. 

“Brian Gibson joins the University of Utah at a moment of incredible global transition and change,” Reed said. “His expertise in building international education networks will be essential as the university strengthens its support for international students, learning abroad initiatives, and campuses and learning programs around the world.”  

In five years at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, Gibson founded the university’s Global Education Office and oversaw global learning programs, which doubled in size during his tenure, growing from 900 to 1,700 students. He managed more than 200 global programs, launching the university’s first experiential learning program and developing its first travel safety and security system.  

Before his time at George Mason, Gibson led Northeastern University’s Global Experience Office for two years. From 2012 to 2014, he was a visiting professor at City University of Hong Kong; and from 2006 to 2012, Gibson was Columbia University’s assistant dean for Comparative and International Programs. He served as acting branch chief for the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Office from 2004 to 2006.  

At the U, Gibson will be responsible for leading the Office of Global Engagement, leading the planning and execution of strategic internationalization initiatives, including the Utah Asia Campus, where student enrollment has grown to more than 400 students studying in six undergraduate and two master’s degree programs. He will be a member of the Academic Affairs leadership team. 

Gibson said his passion for global engagement started with a transformative experience in high school, when he was a foreign exchange student to Sweden. 

“Our conversations must always start and end with students,” Gibson said. “I see global engagement at the center of this swirling mass of creativity, research, discovery and enrichment, where we broaden our diversity and align strengths between our international partners and our faculty and broader university community. Indeed, robust global engagement is a fundamental objective of the university and it is everyone’s job, not just the Office of Global Engagement.” 

Gibson’s research focuses on African customary law. He earned a bachelor’s degree in International Economics and a J.D. in Comparative and International Law from Georgetown University, and a master’s degree from Columbia University. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Amsterdam. 

Gibson succeeds Chris Ireland, who is retiring after serving as the university’s chief global officer since 2018. 

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT THE U?

Global U Quiz

Every fall, the International Student Council hosts International Night--a festive celebration of the global diversity at the U and the keystone event for International Education Week. In 2020 the event pivoted to a virtual format and featured a Zoom trivia night that tested guests’ knowledge of our international student population. It made us curious—how much do our readers really know about international students at the U? We created the quiz below as a fun way to learn more about this important part of our U community.

The University of Utah class of 2024’s international students are from ___ countries.

  1. 37
  2. 51
  3. 42
  4. 48

1. The class of 2024 represents 37 countries! In the past year, the U has welcomed students and scholars from 94 countries in total:
Afghanistan, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, PSE, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

On average, how many new international students arrive at the U each semester?

  1. Fall: 500, Spring: 500, Summer: 250
  2. Fall: 600, Spring: 200, Summer: 50
  3. Fall: 1200, Spring: 600, Summer: 150

2. On average, the U welcomes about 600 international students each Fall, another 200 each Spring, and around 50 each Summer.

What are the two types of authorizations held by international students and scholars?

  1. F-1 visa
  2. S. Passport
  3. J-1 visa
  4. Visa bank card

1 & 3. F-1 visas are held by degree-seeking students (undergraduate and graduate). J-1 visas are required for visitors working on post docs, fellows, interns, and professors. International students must complete more paperwork than their peers. Obtaining a visa requires an 1-20 form, fees, and regular reporting to maintain an active visa status. Visa requirements are subject to change, which can cause a great deal of uncertainty for our international students. This has been especially true during the pandemic.

From what three countries do the majority of the U’s international students come?

  1. India, China, Russia
  2. China, India, South Korea
  3. South Korea, Brazil, China
  4. India, Pakistan, China

2. China (30%), India (16%), and South Korea (12%) are home countries to the majority of the U’s international students.

What is one of the most commonly cited challenges for international students?

  1. Learning Salt Lake’s grid system
  2. Adjusting to Utah’s climate
  3. Finding parking on campus
  4. Overcoming language barriers

4. While all students face many of these challenges, one of the most common challenges that international students mention is a language barrier. It can take longer to process information received in your non-native language, and many students carry cognitive fatigue while acclimating to life in another country. Even students who are very competent English speakers might feel afraid to speak up in class or initiate conversation with a domestic student because they’ve faced judgment about having an accent. Fostering a welcoming, inclusive campus culture at all levels is critical to helping our international students overcome this challenge. Whenever possible, take the first step, introduce yourself, and make an international student feel at home.

Can international students apply for scholarships?

  1. yes
  2. no

1. Yes! In fact, ISSS hosts a special scholarship just for international students. Check it out here.

What two things do international students often say they miss most about their home countries?

  1. Food
  2. Their pets
  3. Family
  4. Weather

1 & 3. Food and family! Reach out to another student and ask about what they miss. Share recipes or participate in a cooking class together. (Many clubs on campus have launched virtual cooking events during Covid!) Sharing food culture is a great way to grow friendships, which can go a long way toward easing the homesickness of missing family.

What do all domestic and international students and scholars have in common?

  1. A love for the color crimson
  2. Excitement when it snows
  3. Membership in the OneU family
  4. A secret desire to wear the Swoop costume

3! No matter where you come from and where you call “home,” all our students are part of the OneU family. ISSS is honored to support you. Learn more about the resources we offer here.

5 WAYS TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL STUDENT WRITING

Dr. Jay Jordan

Creating an inclusive environment that encourages growth in academic writing is one way faculty can be an ally to all U students, particularly if English is not their first language. To learn more about how to foster a supportive writing environment for international students, we talked to Dr. Jay Jordan, Associate Professor of Writing & Rhetoric Studies.

Jordan specializes in second language writing and works with students at the U’s Salt Lake City and Asia Campuses. He is also Faculty Academic Liaison for Utah Global, an international student recruitment and support program on campus.

Here are five things Jordan recommends faculty should consider:

  1. Recognize that first-year writing can’t teach everything.
    English is a notoriously difficult language to learn and, just as in any discipline, there is a limit to how much a student can absorb (and an instructor can teach) in a given semester. In addition, “good” writing can vary a lot by discipline. Don’t expect all of a student’s writing knowledge to come from their writing class. Build in as much low-stakes and ungraded writing as possible into your course so students can practice. Help them write to learn as well as learn to write.
  2. Investigate your own bias and perspective.
    Understanding cultural differences in communication preferences can support the way you present assignments and set expectations. For example, many cultures have some preference for implicitness. If you’re asking a student to deliver argumentative writing, it’s possible that’s a new space for the student and they may not feel immediately comfortable. The American preference for highly explicit communication can even be seen as intellectually insulting in some parts of the world by inferring that the reader can’t come to a conclusion for themselves.
  3. Model good academic writing.
    Showing students what it really looks like to write is very powerful. Don’t just showcase the polished final product. Share your process, show them drafts, talk about writer’s block. Help students understand what it really takes to create a good piece of writing in all its (sometimes messy and frustrating) glory. Pulling back the curtain can make the process less intimidating, normalize healthy struggle, and encourage academic resilience.
  4. Stress the availability of centers and resources.
    We are fortunate to have wonderful writing support available to all students on campus. Sometimes our international students aren’t aware of the full scope of what is available (and that there’s no additional cost for these services). Please make sure they know about The Writing Center, and other student support systems unique to your discipline.
  5. Seek progress, not perfection. Plus, a note on plagiarism.
    Learning to write well in a second language takes courage and vulnerability. Honor the student’s effort by picking your battles and protecting their progress. Don’t overwhelm them (and yourself) by feeling like you have to comment on every error. It’s not uncommon for even advanced English learners to make grammatical mistakes simply because there is no parallel in their home language. Instead, ask and wonder about choices and seek to consistently correct the errors that are most critical to their study at that moment in time.

Finally, a note on plagiarism. The academic code is clear about what constitutes plagiarism—intentionally using another’s work and passing it off as your own. Sometimes, what appears to be plagiarism is an attempt to model academic language that is still out of reach. This is an excellent opportunity to discuss inappropriate borrowing and guide the student to language that doesn’t infringe upon intellectual property rights. Be careful you don’t miss the teaching moment.

Helping International Students Navigate U.S. Election Season

The Office for International Student & Scholar Services is hosting a free weekly webinar series during October aimed at expanding students’ understanding of the U.S. political system.

Attendees will expand their understanding of

  • the basics of the U.S. political system,
  • international student rights and responsibilities when engaging in political activism,
  • U.S. media and consumerism,
  • and international student advocacy.

“This is an important election. Many of our students have reached out hoping to get involved in the political process, but they also feel scared about potential impacts to their immigration status,” said ISSS Director Chelsea Wells.

Wells noted that while most universities are offering election-related programming, there remains a need to highlight the unique interests and concerns of international students as they relate to U.S. politics. While these students cannot register to vote, there remains much they can do to advocate for their positions and interests. “We’d like to provide them with tools so they can engage safely,” said Wells.

This series is hosted in collaboration with faculty and staff from the Department of Political Science, The Law School, The Office of the Dean of Students, as well as other campus and community partners.

All events are hosted on Zoom. The webinar sessions will be recorded for those unable to attend live. The series is free and open to the public.

Learn more at https://isss.utah.edu/news/us-political-webinar-series-fall2020.php

EVENT INFO:

Basic Overview of the U.S. Political System and U.S. Elections

Tuesday, October 6, 2020
4-5 P.M. MST (time zone converter)
Registration will be done through Zoom – register here.

Panelists will provide an overview of the unique system of government in the United States, the philosophy behind the system, and the basics of how U.S. Elections work.

 

International Student Rights & Responsibilities in Political Demonstrations

Tuesday, October 13, 2020
4-5 p.m. MST (time zone converter)
Registration will be done through Zoom – register here.

This webinar will focus on the rights and responsibilities of international students, including how to safely engage in political demonstrations and protests, as well as other types of political activism. Our panel will discuss a myriad of topics, including: how international students can be involved in the U.S. political process, student rights when interacting with U.S. law enforcement and ICE, and reminders about what international students can and cannot do during the U.S. Election.

Understanding U.S. Media & Consumerism

Tuesday, October 20, 2020
4-5 p.m. MST (time zone converter)
Registration will be done through Zoom – register here.

Designed for international students who may not be as familiar with rhetoric used in U.S. media, particularly during U.S. Presidential Election season, our panelists will discuss how to interpret U.S. media, how to determine if information is accurate or inaccurate, how to best research the issues reported, as well as how cultural background may impact the interpretation of information. We will also discuss techniques and tactics regarding how to respectfully engage with peers and other individuals on sensitive political topics.

International Student Advocacy

Tuesday, October 27, 2020
4-5 p.m. MST (time zone converter)
Registration will be done through Zoom – register here.

Our panelists will discuss how international students can participate and advocate for changes at both the local and federal level in the United States. We will provide advocacy group resources, review how international students can get involved in campus groups and local organizations, how international students can become involved with local immigrant communities to advocate for change, and also discuss campus and local resources for students who may be experiencing issues coping and dealing with stress during and after the U.S. Election.

Reinventing a Warm Welcome for International Students

Not long after the dust settled on the transition to remote learning across campus in March, the Office of International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) started shifting their efforts to a new challenge–what would it take to bring new international students to the U in the fall, given the challenges presented by Covid-19?

In a typical year, the ISSS office holds several full-day orientation sessions, providing breakfast and lunch and educating students about visa requirements, their rights and responsibilities in the U.S., and how to seek out support on campus and from others who share their circumstances. “Last year we hosted 16 in-person orientation days,” said ISSS director Chelsea Wells. “In May of this year, we realized we probably wouldn’t be doing that for fall.”

Instead of being dismayed at the prospect of creating a catalog of new, virtual-orientation content, the ISSS staff took the pivot as an opportunity to better serve students. “From the start, we really tried to think about it from a positive standpoint. This is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Wells. Together, the team explored answers to ‘What is orientation?’, ‘What does it mean to us?,’ ‘What kind of presence do we want to have?’

The result of the team’s reimagining begins with a series of robust pre-arrival modules in Canvas (the U’s online coursework management platform), that students complete remotely before they even begin their journey to Utah. Wells noted that in the past, her office struggled with “not knowing how that information landed with students,” but the new format allows for better assessment of comprehension.

The in-person, on-campus sessions were then transitioned to a series of Welcome Week webinars. Students were invited to submit questions in advance and anonymously during the live session. Each session was recorded so that students could review the information as necessary. “It’s no longer just a one-day sprint,” noted Wells. “If we can spread it out over time, it really helps our students retain the large amounts of information they must remember to be successful on campus.”

During the Welcome Week webinar series, students heard from a variety of offices on campus and covered topics from health and safety to student involvement.

“This has really been a fantastic catalyst to launch us into exploring new options and to think creatively while making orientation engaging and student-friendly,” said Wells.

While this year has been unsettling and unpredictable for everyone in the U community, abrupt changes to visa requirements and travel restrictions have added unique hurdles for international students.

Wells remarked that she was moved by the outpouring of support her office received in early July when the federal government issued new guidance that would severely restrict the ability of international students to continue their education in the U.S. (Those restrictions have been subsequently rescinded for all but new incoming students.)

“Students want predictability. They want to ensure that the game isn’t going to change. Anybody traveling to a different country for four to eight years would really want to understand the requirements and, unfortunately, right now many of the rules aren’t stable,” said Wells.

That uncertainly has helped fuel the work of the ISSS office to make the process of coming to the U as comprehensive and engaging as possible. Wells wants international students to know “that the U, particularly ISSS, truly cares about them. Whether they’re on campus or studying in their home country, we are doing everything we can to support their academic journey.”

“Of course, everyone is facing challenges right now, but international students are facing so many obstacles that continuing their studies may seem insurmountable. It’s important for people to have compassion for the fact that they just want to come here and study, and their journeys may be vastly different and more challenging than for students already in the United States,” said Wells.

The ISSS team is committed to doing everything they can to ensure students from all over the globe can do just that–come, study, and have a great experience during their time at the U.

A Safe Space for International Students and Faculty

Originally appeared in @theU on Aug. 5, 2020.

The following editorial by the University of Utah President Ruth V. Watkins and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Dan Reed appeared in the Deseret News on Aug. 3, 2020.

The University of Utah attracts thousands of international students each academic year. Approximately 2,500 students—1,333 undergraduates and 1,205 graduates from about 100 countries—attended the university in fall 2019. We have a mutually beneficial relationship with these students.

By attending the U, international students receive a world-class education at a leading research university that prepares them for success in today’s globally connected workplace. In turn, our international students add experiential, cultural and academic diversity to our campus that benefits faculty, staff and other students—enabling them to develop skills and insights necessary to thrive in a global workforce. These students also enrich the culture of our communities and our state.

In addition, more than 140 scholars from other countries serve on our faculty, offering global perspectives in their specialized fields to their students and their academic colleagues.

The value of such cross-cultural exchange is well understood by the many Utahns who have completed international service missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. More broadly, this is a state whose residents value diversity as shown by the consistently warm welcome they give immigrants and refugees.

Our appreciation of the extraordinary value our international students contribute to our institution is the primary reason we joined numerous colleges and universities across the country in challenging a U.S. Department of Homeland Security rule that would have revoked or barred issuance of visas for international students whose classes will be fully online this fall.

These misguided machinations have generated uncertainty and angst for our current international students, adding to their confusion and worry over the coronavirus pandemic. Like all of our students, they had to shift rapidly to online coursework in the spring. Some of our international students were able to return home in the midst of this disruption but many now face uncertainty about their ability to return to Utah due to travel restrictions.

Other international students were unable to return home this spring due to those travel restrictions and remain in Utah, some continuing to live on campus. As is the case for all our students, they are prepared to engage in the hybrid approach to instruction we are preparing for fall semester that will undoubtedly include some—and, depending on courses selected, potentially all—online classes.

We have reassured our actively enrolled international students that, however fall semester may unfold, we will be able to support their academic ambitions. Now, we are working with our newly enrolled international students who hope to come to the U for the first time. Some already face obstacles in obtaining visas due to U.S. consulate closures. We are working to help them create course schedules that include at least one in-person or hybrid class so they are able to enter the U.S. and to reassure them they’ll be able to remain here even if the pandemic requires a return to all online classes.

Our university is focused on discoveries and innovations that will solve the grand challenges that confront not just our state and our country, but also the world—a necessity made more apparent by the coronavirus pandemic.

This focus is consistently reinforced in our discussions with business leaders, who tell us the employees they seek must understand and be able to succeed in a globally connected workplace. Both our domestic and our international students develop some of that capability through opportunities to learn in shared spaces, whether in a physical or online classroom.

On Aug. 24, we will begin a new academic year in a time of unprecedented uncertainty that is requiring extraordinary flexibility and nimbleness by all members of our campus community. Across the U, we are working diligently to reduce stress on our students, staff and faculty and to provide a safe environment in which to explore, learn, teach, research and work.

We want our international students—those who are new to the U as well as those who are returning to our campus—to know they are vital participants in the invigorating process that encompasses the pursuit of knowledge.

Chelsea Wells Appointed as Director of International Student & Scholar Services in the Office for Global Engagement

Chelsea Wells

Chelsea Wells

The Office for Global Engagement (OGE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Chelsea Wells as the new Director of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). This is an important leadership role in OGE and for the University, ensuring compliance with federal immigration regulations, advocating for international students and scholars on campus and in our community, and providing specialized support services for our 2,900 students and 450 scholars who come from 111 countries around the world.  Chelsea brings exceptional expertise to OGE with respect to federal immigration regulations, advocacy for our international community, international student recruitment and admissions, and the relationships she has built across campus and in the community.

Chelsea Wells is a dedicated higher education professional who has been working with international students and diverse communities for nearly ten years. With a background in Anthropology and Law, Chelsea has worked to advocate for the needs of international students and their families through a myriad of channels, including immigration and educational advising, as well as recruitment and admissions processing.  Chelsea received her Bachelor of Science in Biological Anthropology from Loyola University Chicago, and her Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law. Chelsea has worked at the University of Utah for nearly four years, and most recently served as the Director of Operations in the Office of Admissions. Chelsea is greatly looking forward to continuing to work with the international community at the U, as well as for the opportunity to continue to advocate and innovate to expand our programs and initiatives to best serve our international students and scholars.

Chelsea is starting in her new role on July 8, 2019.

Humans of the U Omid Atlaschian

Originally published in @theU on April 8, 2020

“I am an international student, which is a community of about 10% of the students here at the U. I came from Iran. We all made a long journey to get here, that’s common between all of us. Helping others, feeling their pain, and being with them is the least that we could do as a human being. Especially since our community may be the minority, being together and helping each other is very important.

Getting a degree might be the top priority that any student has. However, I think that could be just one goal during school! As a human, we have enormous potential and power, especially when we are together. If we isolate ourselves from others, we get weaker and weaker.

To be involved with other activities will enrich our personalities and make ourselves a more powerful person. Being in school is an exceptional opportunity to know ourselves better, find out more about other communities and cultures, and feel the great experience of being active while in an academic environment and making the most of it.

As a member of this community, I believe it’s our duty and role to help this community as much as we can. We are all busy with schoolwork but have enough time to help other students. I haven’t made a significant contribution; all I have done is to motivate, support, and cooperate with other international students so that we all can make a better community.

I believe that we all could do more to support our community, keep it alive and active. We all could start from our community, try to feel more united and help keep it alive, and further help other communities.

We should also accept our differences, focus on what we all have in common, and try to have a mutual understanding. By being together, we could reach further steps. I would like to ask everyone to acknowledge and respect the effort of those who are active and initiate activities, even though we are all super busy. Help them as much as you can, since it is equal to helping yourselves.

It makes me feel great when I see that someone cares about other’s problems and pain as well. It is the true meaning of a human being, I believe.”

—Omid Atlaschian, doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering,
inaugural recipient of the International Student Council Scholarship