by Diego Montano Del Granado, Bolivia – Graduate student in Higher Education Administration
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.
All throughout high school I never really felt very confident in myself as a student. I was worried about the future and where it would take me after graduation.
I went and toured every single university in my city back home, but I did not feel a connection to any of them. All my friends had already decided what they were going to do in the future, which made me more nervous. As the time to make a decision approached, I decided to pursue a dream that I had since I was a kid, and that was to study abroad. I knew I wanted to grow as a person, I wanted to learn more about other cultures, and I wanted to get the best possible education. Most importantly, however—I wanted a better future.
Once my mom was on board with me studying abroad, we started searching for the perfect place. We spoke with people who had studied abroad and with admissions advisors. It was then that someone mentioned the University of Arkansas. My mom and I researched the University and its location. As soon as we saw the campus and Fayetteville, we knew this was the place for me! I knew I wanted to study business because it is a broad field full of opportunities, so the high ranking of the Sam M. Walton College of Business was really important to me.
“My job as a student ambassador was especially great in helping me feel more sure of myself.”
I was lucky enough to find people that guided me through my first year of college. One of the first pieces of advice I received was to get work experience and create a resume. I had always thought that a resume needed to be filled with a full-time job experience, but I decided to follow the advice I received. I started applying for different positions on campus—both paid and unpaid, and I grew in my experience and confidence through every position I held. My job as a student ambassador was especially great in helping me feel more sure of myself. Student ambassadors have a huge impact on prospective students. The satisfaction of helping other students and getting good feedback after every tour I gave as a student ambassador was one of the best feelings I have ever felt!
My experiences at the University of Arkansas have helped me realize my potential as a student, as a young professional, and as a person. I am no longer the same person I was when I think back to my high school days—where I used to see obstacles, I now see opportunities, and I know I can achieve anything!
