I never realized how big of a deal it is to be the “first” to ever do something until I came to America. For example, to be the first-generation college student in my family or to be the first and only student from East Timor to ever go to SEMO (the college where I study). These are some of the …

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“Then, I remembered things that I always said to myself that getting a scholarship to come to America is not just to get a degree but also to gain an experience that can help me make the best decision and I don’t think I can get that in anywhere else so I would take any opportunity as many as po…

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I can’t even begin where and how to sum up my four years of college experience in this blog but let’s just say it has been the best thing to ever happen to me. I’m glad that I made this decision coming here to study and live far from home. It was definitely a bittersweet decision to leave my h…

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This fall 2021, I had an opportunity to become one of the facilitators for the First-Year Leadership Program (FyLP). I was once a FyLP graduate in my first semester and let me tell you, I was a nerve-wracked when speaking in front of a lot of people and the fact that I have to deliver my speech or e…

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Culture Shock “So, how’s America treating you so far? Do you like it to be here though? How do you feel?” Honestly, I have had trouble answering these questions. It was not that I did not know how, but I kept worrying that people would not understand my English when I respond, or w…

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