The views and opinions expressed in the Graduate and International Ambassador Blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Arkansas.
By Jade Romain
When I landed at XNA airport in Fayetteville, AR in August 2018 at 12:00am, I was just exhausted from the two-day journey it had taken me to get here from my home island, Dominica. All I wanted to do was hop in an Uber (my first Uber ever!) and get to my friend’s apartment to get some sleep. I had no idea that this was the beginning of one of the most amazing and transformative times of my life. Let me share with you how coming to the University of Arkansas has changed my life.
I have become a much more open-minded and accepting individual: Coming from a somewhat sheltered life from a very small island, I knew very little about life in the US and the many different cultures I encountered here at the University of Arkansas. My view of the United States was based solely on the TV shows I watched and the news stations I rarely listened to. So, when I came here, I was, as you can imagine, very cautious. I wanted to make friends but culture shock, the difference in weather, and trying to find my place on this big, beautiful campus seemed so overwhelming. My freshman year was tough!
“my mind has been opened through the diversity of students I have met here…”
However, after that tough first year I realized that in order for me to make friends and make the most of this experience I had to stop missing everything about home and focus on making the most out of the opportunities I have here. I decided to learn more about the wonderful people here. The U of A has a very diverse range of local and international students and they have many opportunities to learn about U.S. culture and the cultures of other international students. I took a leap of faith, got an on-campus job, joined different clubs, and now have a close group of friends from all over the world! I still miss home, of course, but now my mind has been opened through the diversity of students I have met here, and I have learned that there is something to celebrate about each person’s culture.
I have also received many opportunities for my academic and professional growth here at the U of A. I am extremely proud to be a student of the University of Arkansas, but, more specifically, the Sam Walton College of Business. As an Accounting major and Business Analytics minor, I feel that the classes I’ve taken so far have equipped me exceptionally well for when I enter the workforce. All of my professors have been supportive, and I have never felt like I have been left struggling through a class.
“My time here has also made me a stronger person.”
The Walton College has many great programs such as Leadership Walton & Walton Career Services, which equip you with everything you need to land your dream job. As international students we face many difficulties with finding opportunities during and after university, however the University of Arkansas does everything it can to make our transition as smooth as possible and to give us the necessary support that we need.
My time here has also made me a stronger person. As much as I love the University of Arkansas, I must admit everything isn’t perfect. I have faced challenges like having classmates be rude and dismissive to me because of my accent (this has happened very few times). I have been made to feel uncomfortable looking around in certain stores. Most recently, I have seen racial tensions rise here in the US—something that I had never experienced back home. It breaks my heart to see the repeated pain that people of color experience here.
It has also given me greater appreciation for and deep respect towards people of color who have lived with this reality their entire life. Despite the difficulties I have encountered, I have realized I should allow myself to go through the painful process of growth. Even more importantly, I have made wonderful friendships here with people who love me and help me through whatever stresses I am facing. I would have never experienced these moments of growth had I not come to the University of Arkansas.
In conclusion, my journey here at the U of A continues as I head into my Senior year next semester. It has been a wild and amazing ride! I look forward to the final stretch.
