An International First Year Experience

As an international student, Linh might have a faced a bigger adjustment coming to W&J College from Vietnam, but thanks to the care of the International Student Office, Linh felt welcomed from the first moment. Linh found “treats for international students like me that helped me easily adapt to a new life in the U.S.” and “many opportunities to develop myself…in the first semester.”

Linh learned about the Dance Team at the Club Expo at the beginning of the year. She joined the Dance Team and tried Jazz for the first time. As a member of the International Club, Linh’s involvement on campus has also meant providing new opportunities for others. For one event, Linh and a friend served Vietnamese coffee. “I was so happy because so many people tried and enjoyed our coffee. It made me a little homesick but also proud.”

While she’s here, Linh is getting more comfortable with her second language and looking forward to completing a Magellan Project, another opportunity to travel and study while she’s at W&J College. As she says, “My first semester went greater than I expected,” and “I’m looking forward to many other experiences in the future.”

Finding Herself at Home

Like many freshmen, Ava felt nervous about leaving behind what was familiar to start a new phase of her life. Then, she found a community of support to help her feel at home at W&J College. She joined organizations that matched her interests, like the Mock Trial team, History Club, and the Pre-Legal Society, and served as a Student Government Association representative. But really, it was the people who made the difference: Student Life staff, RAs, her peers, and her First Year Seminar (FYS) professor. RAs held community-building events, checked in regularly with everyone on the floor, dispensed advice, or just offered to listen. As a result, “students on my floor are so close to each other and we do so many fun things together.”

And her FYS professor? “Words cannot express how intriguing, deep, and helpful [my FYS] class was not only for my transition to college but also just to the understanding of a college classroom.”

Convinced by her experience and eager to help others find themselves at home at W&J College, Ava became an Admission Ambassador and applied to be an RA for the next academic year.

“I would recommend W&J in a heartbeat because of the community that we have here on this campus…W&J is a safe, inclusive, studious, and fun place that I am so happy to say I can call my second home.”

Dream Opportunities

Shayla realized a dream when she came to W&J College. It had been her school of choice since she first learned about our programs as a high school freshman. From the “welcoming introduction” of orientation to bonding with her LINK mentor to and her fellow Army ROTC cadets – “In ROTC, the people really make you feel welcome and supported. I adore it.” – Shayla has found connections on campus and made the transition to campus life.

Now that she’s here, Shayla is pursuing new dreams, for example, working to create a new club on campus for those connected to military service to establish a support network for those with military ties. That’s just the beginning.

“W&J gives you lots of opportunity, whether it’s for internships, going abroad, or completing an independent study project like the Magellan Project. The College provides a strong foothold for the future. I feel like there’s nothing I can’t do.”