Transition into a new country could be daunting. There are aspects of academic transitions, cultural transitions and aspects of wellbeing when it comes to scholars moving to study abroad. Some of the challenges identified included:
• Navigating the Black tax
• Managing Relationships- keeping connections with family and friends back at home
• Microaggressions
• Proving credibility in the new environment- academic and professional
• Language
• Dietary concerns
• Balancing life- academics and health
But despite these challenges, scholars were resilient and had come up with challenges and strategies to solve the challenges as they came their way. Here are some practical suggestions from scholars
“Remember that your accent tells your story. Your accent is a unique part of your identity that also reflects your brave journey of leaving home behind to become an international student who pursues their dreams and aspirations. ”
“By exposing yourself as much as possible to locally spoken English and taking the opportunity to practise your English while speaking with others, you can become more confident with different communication styles.”
“Connecting with other Mastercard Foundation scholars and alumni can offer you a deeper insight on what to expect when you commence your journey as an international student. ”
“Having high expectations can boost your performance but can also be a source of stress and anxiety. Practising self-compassion by avoiding self-judgement can have a positive impact on your wellbeing.”
“Give yourself time as you learn to navigate you new academic environment”
“Balancing an increased academic workload can be challenging at first. It’s vital to keep in mind that everyone has a different working pattern, so you might need to try several things before you find the most effective strategy to handle your own academic workload.”