“There were days I doubted everything—my English, my choices, my future. But then I reminded myself why I came here in the first place.”
— Omar, Egypt
Omar always knew he wanted to study public health. But when he got accepted to a university in the U.S., it felt more like a dream than a plan. “I had never been that far from home,” he says. “It was exciting—but terrifying too.”
The first few weeks were overwhelming. “I couldn’t follow the jokes people made in class. I wasn’t sure when to speak up or how to make small talk,” he admits. “I felt like I was constantly behind.” Grocery stores confused him. Bus schedules didn’t make sense. He missed the sound of Arabic in the background and the comfort of home-cooked meals.
Despite the self-doubt, Omar kept pushing forward. He found a quiet coffee shop off campus where he could study and reset. He connected with a professor who encouraged him to join a student research group. And he made his first real friend after they both got lost in the same chemistry lab building.
“I started writing small goals in my notebook each week,” Omar shares. “Sometimes it was just: ask one question in class. Or go to a campus event, even if I didn’t know anyone. I still use that notebook.”
Omar also joined a mentorship program for international students. There, he met people from different countries going through the same struggles. “We shared stories, gave each other advice, and laughed at the mistakes we all made. It helped me feel less alone.”
Now, he’s in his second year and thriving—doing research, volunteering at the campus health center, and even leading a peer support group. “The biggest thing I learned,” he says, “was how strong I actually am. Asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s growth.”
His advice for other international students?
“Feeling lost doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong place. Sometimes it just means you’re growing.”