Albert here, My name is Albert Omondi, currently staying in Kamloops and I am originally from Kenya. I am in my third year in Communication and Digital Journalism majoring in Public Relations. I do work at Shoppers Drug Mart as a merchandiser. I am very skilled soccer player and I was named best soccer player in my high school. I like playing and watching soccer during my free time. I am a Christian and I value honesty and Kindness. The challenges I faced when I first came to Kamloops were loneliness and difficulty to find foodstuffs that I am used to
Every year many students choose to further their education in Canada and TRU is one of the institutions that many students come to. According to Harman Kataria who I interviewed, moving to a new country to pursue your academic career can be both exciting and challenging. Additionally, adjusting to a new environment, people, and culture takes time and patience. A person’s ability to adjust and transition to a new place will determine whether they succeed or fail in their goals. It is therefore important that new international students are offered the support and services they need to adjust at TRU. In this podcast you will hear about some of the challenges international students face while studying at TRU. Home sickness, difficulty making friends, and high cost of living including high tuition fees for international students are some of the challenges discussed today.
Studies have found that providing support services to international students helps in their adjustments to the new environment. This ensures that they can adjust well and be successful in their academic careers. Our interviewee provides some suggested support that can be provided to these students to help them navigate the new environment and reduce the hardships they go through. Things like merit-based scholarships for international students can help reduce the cost of tuition thus reducing the financial hardship some students face.
Ultimately, supporting all students is important but providing targeted support for individual groups of students like international students ensures their smooth adjustment to the new environment and more success in their academics.
The flags outside international building.
References
Banit, O. L. G. A., Babushko, S. V. I. T. L. A. N. A., & Baranova, L. I. L. I. A. (2021). Academic, Social and Cultural Adaptation of International Students in Canada.
Bimpong, B. K. (2023). Challenges Facing African International Students at Research Universities in the United States. Journal of Education and Teaching Methods, 2(4), 1-16.