Starting my journey as an international student at Washburn University as a freshman has been full of mixed feelings. It has been quite exciting and nerve-wracking.
When I arrived for the orientation, everything was new for me; new faces, new college, new city. I didn’t know what to do or how to interact with people because I get nervous talking with people. In addition, I got lost numerous times because I didn’t know any of the building names or even what they looked like. In my desperation, I decided to get help from complete and total strangers. They were very polite and helped me find the buildings where they were conducting the orientation class for students. I decided to talk and interact with everyone who arrived there.I also talked with my advisor and registered for my classes.
After a few days, our regular classes began and it was tough for me to find the classrooms. When I finally found the classes, the professors were all kind and welcoming. My second class was the Washburn Experience. This subject is basically about knowing everything about the university. I made many new friends in this class. Our professor sent us to different places around campus to take photos and videos, which was very helpful for us to know every corner of campus.
In my free time, I hang out around the Memorial Union with the new friends I’ve made. We talk about the classes, assignments and make plans to visit different places on weekends.
Washburn has many events for students like the career fair, which was held at the Lee Arena. There were many people that gave me and my friends advice about career plans and different career opportunities we could have.
During my freshman year, the university provided me with tons of free Washburn gear during various events, which increased my excitement about campus life. They offered items like chocolates, candies, pens, T-shirts and even hoodies. Many of these events included fun games and activities where students could win these items, creating an energetic and welcoming environment.
Throughout the semester, I have faced ups and downs with the coursework. However, I quickly realized that the professors here are not only kind but also highly experienced. With their guidance and support, I was able to stay on track and keep up with my grades, gaining confidence in my academic journey.
My time as a new student at Washburn University has been very exciting and I’ve learned a lot. Even though I felt a little nervous at first, meeting kind people and making new friends made me feel better. Getting to know the campus, joining classes and going to events like the career fair helped me understand the university more and feel like I belong here. I’m excited to keep learning, making new friends and having fun at Washburn.
Edited by Morgan Albrecht and Alijah McCracken and Stuti Khadka
