Admitted at the U of A means a lot to me. Not only that my dream to study abroad comes true, but it also becomes a giant step ahead in my personal development. Studying abroad means that you have to leave your family and country thousands of miles behind. It is definitely not easy, but it is worth something. Living without your family trains you to be independent and being a student at U of A clearly contributes and shapes my personal growth. The fact that I am an international student and a Muslim with hijab truly matters. I may be different from most of the students in this particular university and the people in Fayetteville in general. However, I do not feel any difficulties simply because of my religion and nationality. Being different does not necessarily mean that I will feel alienated. I feel the U of A is very welcoming and warm.
During my first semester at the U of A, I don’t feel much troubled adjusting myself to the new life as a student in a foreign country. Courses’ reading materials trouble me sometimes but as time goes by, I am getting used to it. Language problem does occur, but not much. One resource on campus called the Writing Center benefits me in a way that I can polish my paper before submitting it. Another service provided on campus that I feel it amazing is the interlibrary loan. This particular service helps students to get resources from out of the campus library.
In addition, different resources on campus have also contributed a lot to help me get the fullest campus experience. Various programs on campus as well as resources such as International Culture Team (ICT), iFriend, Y.O.L.O, and Multicultural Center, to name a few, have colored my student experiences at the U of A. I personally feel enriched being exposed to the diversity on campus in terms of nationality, language, culture, religion, race, etc. Such exposure helps me to develop tolerance, respect each other, be open minded, and be proud of our own culture. I am delighted to say that the U of A experience has taught me a lot to grow to be a better person. Thank you, U of A!
