As a student that is coming from non-native English speaking country, this situation described in both Colarossi and Wedemeyer-Strombel’s experienced could not just depict the real situation faced by us as international students but also make us see “Us” in their way of telling story. Personally, I really appreciate these readings as the materials for us for this week since I am a first-year graduate student here at Purdue University. Discussing this topic, really motivates me to take extra good care of my mental health and how it could possibly lead me to feel that during this journey, I am not alone at all in my battles. I knew it is still a long run to go before all these concerns are completely being addressed, at least this is the moment to reassure that such sensitives issues are being acknowledged and talked about as part of the process that graduate students will deal with daily. Adapting to a new academic setting is already challenging enough without having to deal with the ever-present language barrier.
My academic life is already stressful enough without having to deal with the constant worry of being misunderstood or misinterpreted. Every part of my academic experience, from class discussions to research presentations, is infused with the persistent pressure to communicate well in a language that is not my first. When I'm under this tension, I often feel helpless and overwhelmed. When it comes to mental health, international students like me encounter a complex landscape shaped by cultural differences. When people in my own country talk about mental health, it's usually because it's considered taboo. It is freeing and intimidating to arrive in the US, where these discussions are more prevalent. The openness here is great, but I still carry the shame from my cultural upbringing, so I feel torn between the two cultures. This duality hinders my use of the various mental health facilities; I have a long way to go before I can overcome my deep-seated fear of talking about sensitive topics. Even while many overseas students worry about the loneliness described in the essay about graduate school, I feel really lucky. I am fortunate to have my spouse by my side, who is a rock in a world where many of my contemporaries have come alone. Having him around provides much-needed emotional support and a familiar feeling of home as I navigate the ups and downs of graduate school. Having said that, I am well aware that this is not the reality for many overseas students, who endure profound isolation due to the great distances between themselves and their families and other cultural touchstones.
As an international student, I find that the financial strain that many graduate students experience is much more pronounced. We continue to confront enormous obstacles. Our ability to work is severely limited by visa regulations, and we are frequently relegated to low-paying on-campus positions that barely scrape by. A perpetual undercurrent of financial concern is created by the increased costs of international tuition and travel on top of the necessity of managing a tight budget while abroad. Anxieties are heightened because we know it won't be easy to change our circumstances or apply for more financial aid, unlike domestic students. Many international graduate students suffer from heightened imposter syndrome, which is perhaps the most widespread obstacle. Not only do we struggle with issues of academic self-perception and program acceptance, but we also face more universal questions of national identity and belonging while studying abroad. There is always some nagging uncertainty because of this double imposter syndrome. Is this new academic setting a good fit for our ideas? How applicable is our study? How do we integrate into this new community's social and cultural norms?
The ongoing enquiries and doubts erode our confidence and prevent us from giving our academics all we might. Graduate students from other countries encounter a distinct mental health topography because of things like language issues, cultural variances in how mental health is regarded, financial difficulty, and double imposter syndrome. Having my spouse here is really helpful even if it might not solve all of our issues. If we are to ensure our academic and personal success in our new surroundings, institutions have to grasp and handle these specific issues as part of their total assistance for abroad student populations. As an overseas graduate student, I would want to especially thank Purdue University for all of their help during my academic career. The Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS) offers a spectrum of services to assist international students and scholars at all phases of their path, therefore considerably supporting them. Another avenue Purdue concentrates on cultural learning and mentorship is the CILMAR (Centre for Intercultural Learning, Mentorship, Assessment, and Research). This institution offers courses aimed at teaching students how to effectively collaborate and communicate across cultural backgrounds. For international students like me, these kinds of initiatives are really great since they enable students from many cultural backgrounds understand one another and cooperate.
Moreover, the goal of Purdue University is much enhanced by mental health resources. Counselling, seminars, and support groups are available to international students at Purdue University, and they are designed to address their specific needs. When dealing with challenges like academic stress and isolation, it is essential to take a comprehensive approach to students' well-being. In the end, the tremendous resources offered by Purdue University significantly enhance the whole experience of students from other nations. Through a range of programs including orientation, immigration assistance, cultural programming, and mental health resources, we are guaranteed of the university's relentless dedication to our academic and personal success. These tools have helped me to fit into my new house and confidently pursue my academic goals.
References
Colarossi, J. (2022b, April 21). Mental Health of College Students Is Getting Worse. Boston University; The Brink. https://www.bu.edu/articles/2022/mental-health-of-college-students-is-getting-worse/
Wedemeyer-Strombel, K. R. (2019, August 27). Why we need to talk more about mental health in graduate school. The Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/why-we-need-to-talk-more-about-mental-health-in-graduate-school/
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