by Jean-Hugues Bita’a Menye
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.
Hello! My name is Jean-Hugues Bita’a Menye, and I am from Cameroon, in Central Africa. I am a Ph.D. student in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies in the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures and I am also a teaching assistant and instructor of World Literature and Composition. I am also a graduate tutor at the Sam. M. Walton College of Business.
I chose to study abroad because I wanted to explore different cultures and give myself new opportunities. After working for eight years as a secondary school teacher, I wanted to achieve a doctoral degree and become a university lecturer. The University of Arkansas offered me a safe environment where I could encounter various cultures and nationalities. In this environment, I had the opportunity to explore other cultures and understand the value of my own identity and my nationality. As a matter of fact, I now realize how important it is to assert oneself and respect others, while sharing trust and tolerance.
As a teacher and a tutor, my mission is to get students involved in the building of their careers. It’s been a wonderful experience to help my students at the University of Arkansas understand the importance and the central role that their studies and their research play in building their professional profile. I believe that through writing, we can achieve a more tolerant and inclusive environment.
