Living thousands of miles from home for better opportunities can come with risks and challenges from not knowing the language and adjusting to a new country. Still, for expatriate students at Hunter College, it is a transformative experience that opens doors to a world of opportunities. Hunter College, located in the vibrant heart of New York City, has garnered a well-deserved reputation for its commitment to diversity and inclusivity. This esteemed institution attracts local students seeking a high-quality education and serves as a second home for many expatriate students. These expat students, hailing from various corners of the globe, bring unique experiences, rich cultures, and diverse perspectives contributing to the vibrant tapestry of Hunter College’s academic and social environment.
As the school year draws to a close, it is a momentous occasion for students wrapping up their first year at Hunter College. Among them are Soumeya Aboulaye and Aleksandr Belousov, who embarked on their journeys at the college with their motivations and aspirations.
Soumeya Aboulaye, a first-year freshman at Hunter College, chose to pursue a major in Social Work for personal reasons. Having immigrated to the United States in July 2015 during her last year of middle school, Aboulaye understands firsthand the challenges of adapting to a new country and a different educational system. One of the most significant hurdles she encountered was the language barrier, as she had to grapple with learning English while primarily speaking French. Despite these challenges, Aboulaye’s determination and passion for making a difference in the lives of others led her to choose the Social Work program at Hunter College. “I want to be an immigration social worker and help people like myself”, says Aboulaye.
In contrast, Aleksandr Belousov’s journey to Hunter College started under different circumstances. Belousov, originally from Russia, decided to leave his home country last August due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the looming prospect of mandatory military service. He wanted to escape the war and violence he saw unfolding in Russia and was determined not to participate in a conflict that went against his principles. “I do not want this war in Russia, and I do not want to kill anybody,” said Belousov. Thanks to the support of the Zimin Foundation, which provides scholarships to students like him who have left Russia, Belousov had the opportunity to pursue his passion for Media Studies at Hunter College.
Getting used to a new country and transferring to a college is a transitional phase for most individuals. As for Laura Jesensius, she arrived in New York at the beginning of 2023 from Oslo, Norway. Her reason for leaving Oslo is due to the personal dream of her always wanting to live in New York. “Growing up watching movies, music, I was fascinated by the culture and I had this urge.”, says Jesensius. She started studying at Hunter this semester majoring in film.
One of the obstacles they faced at Hunter College was getting used to the language. Aboulaye recalled adjusting to her English when she started attending college took some time. The English language presented a more intensive challenge to her due to Hunter’s vocabulary complexity. “That is when I knew that I needed to improve my English,” says Aboulaye. For Belousov, he was in a similar predicament. “I can understand the language, but speaking is not my favorite part,” says Belousov. For Jesensius, no matter the obstacles she has faced this semester, she feels happy to be here.
Unlike the other three expat students, Irene Kandia has been attending Hunter College for over a year. Kandia, a senior studying Media studies, recalls her experience at Hunter. “This college has great professors, approachable and worked with me,” says Kandia. Having arrived in New York in 2019 from Athens, Greece, Irene briefly attended a local community college in Long Island. She transferred to Hunter College for the Fall 2021 semester. “The difference between the community college and Hunter was that the students participate more here; they are more ambitious and invested in their studies,” says Kandia. One of the reasons she applied to Hunter was the affordable public tuition, as she wanted to avoid taking out loans.
With their diverse experiences at Hunter College, Soumeya Aboulaye, Belousov, Kandia, and Jesensius have valuable insights to offer prospective international or expat students considering joining the Hunter College community. Kandia’s advice would be to be on top of everything, which meant homework, papers, financial aid, advising appointments, class registration, etc. Jesensius wants them to meet all your deadlines. “Be sure what you need and what you want to do as soon as possible”, says Jensenius. Finally, Aboulaye’s most important advice is to follow your dreams and do what you are passionate about.
The experiences and stories of the expat students themselves shed light on the vibrant and inclusive nature of the community at Hunter College. These students bring a wealth of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures to the institution, contributing to a dynamic academic and social environment. Aboulaye talks about how much she misses Togo but also reminds herself why she is here in the first place. “Remind yourself why you are here, we are here to have a better life,” says Aboulaye.
