The Story Behind International Students

As college students, do we sometimes undervalue the opportunity for education? Do we

take for granted Financial Aid/Scholarships? Do we think of college education as a privilege, or

a right?

What to many seems like a given right more than a privilege, young foreigners come to

the Unite States with the hope to achieve their academic dreams.

While some complain they didnt receive enough money from the government,

international students dont have access to Federal Pell grants or student loans through FAFSA.

The way to finance education in the States through savings, private scholarships and/or high

interest loans from their home country.

By gaining more understanding about the immigration process for students, what it takes

from people and by seeing the sacrifices that it takes for many to get to college, we could better

appreciate the privilege of college education.

Back in Latvia, Ruta did not have any plans of coming to the states. Her parents did not

have the financial means to provide for a college education. By the time she finished high school,

her mother had passed away and her dad was not willing to help her with college education.

An elderly couple, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have

sponsored students to study in the United States before. They were teaching Seminaryreligion

class in the Mormon church for teen age kids between 14 to 18 years-old Ruta attended that

class.

When they heard of her situation, they offered to sponsor Ruta to come to the States.

Rutas excitement was great. The opportunity to fulfil a dream she thought impossible was

happening before her eyes.

interview at a U.S. consulate that was required to acquire a visa to study in the states. The

financial aspect was covered. The next hard thing was to fill all the paper work, gather all the

necessary documentation and travel to the nearest US embassy, which happened to be five hours

away.

Ruta was in a place where she thought studying in this country was an impossible dream.

She is not the only one who felt that way. Ruth is a young woman from Spain who made the

necessary sacrifices to come here.

Spain has been going through hard economic crisis for a long time and things dont seem

to be improving. Most college age Spaniards fled the country in search of a future. Ruth decided

to also search for a future, and decided to make Utah her Promised Land.

Coming to her promised land was hard emotionally, financially and physically. The

accent and Spanish look drew attention to this introverted girl. Ruth describes herself as

introverted and shy. Making it hard for her to just jump right into the pool when it came to

start a new life in the United States.

Emotional challenges for her were more complex that the paper work. In her experience,

the paper work was not difficult but unnecessarily expensive. Ruth was lucky to have her school

do most of the paper work for her student visa. But in her mind, it seemed unnecessary for the

process fees to be so high when students come to spend money here anyway.

After marrying her husband, she became eligible for a Green Card, which she said, was

a completely different story! The paper work was intense, the fees were high and again, it took

a lot of emotional and physical energy for her to complete the process.
 The first year a half welcomed her with cultural shock and homesickness that made her

physically sick, leaving some health marks. Yet, she feels her sacrifice paid off. Ruth said: I

was accepted at the University of Utah and was able to fulfill my longed dream of studying in the

US and build a career with an amazing husband by my side.

For others, like Carol from Guatemala, coming to study in the States required effort, but

it wasnt an exhausting process. Her motivation, like others, was the better opportunities that are

offered here compared to opportunities in her home country.

Both of her older siblings studied in the United States, and she wanted to follow their

footsteps. She wanted her experience here to teach her how to be self-sufficient and relay more

in herself than her parents.

Carol was blessed to lack of financial challenges and have parental support. The amount

of paper work and the visa process went very smoothly for her, but she still thinks it was too

much paper work.

By reading others life experiences, we can gain better understanding of what college

means to others. Ruta, Ruth and Carol had different motivation and experiences when they first

came. But their goal was the same: to find better opportunities and a better future.

I, myself, am an immigrant. I immigrated as an international student but am now a U.S.

resident, or more commonly known as a Green Card holder. I followed each law, filed each form

and paid each fee that was asked from me. It was an expensive and tedious process. Coming to

the States required sacrifices.

I moved to the United States at the age of 15 after graduating from high school. I decided

to move to the United States because I didnt feel I had a place or a future in Colombia. After
moving to a different city for my dads job, I fell in a deep depression. I would always be in my

room and would only come out to exercise and eat.

My parents had debt and low income. My dad had to acquire another loan to pay for

SEVIS fees, plane tickets, education costs and visa processes.

I lived under the financial care of American citizens until I got married. My parents

acquired a third loan to help me pay an international deposit at Latter-Day-Saint Business

College. After my first semester, I found a job and earned academic scholarships.

It was a hard and challenge filled road for me to get to where I am right now. In my

experience, the reward was worth the effort. I have a future to build, and a world to change.

Nelson Mandela said: Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to

change the world. That weapon comes easier to some than others. So, dont we need the most

power weapon to change our own world? Shouldnt we be grateful for the opportunity to change

our world?