When most people are asked what their favorite part of Swarthmore is, they may say that it is the luscious green campus, or the endless academic opportunities and the many communities students can be a part of. If I were to answer this question, I would say that the stories that each individual carries with them is the most beautiful and intriguing part of this campus.
As an international student, I was brought up in a tiny country city known as Singapore. I was very grateful for being brought up in a family and community that placed the utmost emphasis on learning about the people around us, building meaningful connections with our community, and showing compassion towards one another.
As soon as I arrived on campus, I was grateful for being able to be part of the international student community. I was greeted at the steps of Parrish for the new student orientation, and with goodie bags. I already knew I had made the right choice.
Being an international student here at Swarthmore feels very similar to Singapore. At the start of this semester, I would think about how I live 9,500 miles away from my home, and away from the comfort of my mum’s hug. Now if someone asks me about home, I ask, “which home are you talking about?” Being a part of the international student community at Swarthmore, I have been able to understand the meaning of the phrase “home is not a place but a person.” The international student club at Swarthmore is one of the largest clubs on the campus. The students within this club represent 16% of our college population. Each, as any other individual, possesses the true power of sharing their own story and using their voice.
Being a part of a club as diverse as this, has truly been mesmerizing. This campus community brings together individuals from across different socioeconomic backgrounds, and different cultural contexts and backgrounds. This is something that I appreciate the most, as this gives me countless opportunities to expand my own horizon and build closer deeper relationships with my community. I especially enjoy the different events hosted by both the international student club and the intercultural center, where we are able to celebrate each unique culture and each person’s story. This was my first year celebrating Diwali, a traditional Indian festival of lights, without my parents. At Swat, with the SOSA club for students from South East Asia, we celebrated with warm Indian food and delicious lassi. This reminded me that I could still remain connected to my culture and it didn’t have to be something I needed to hide.
Through my time here, I have been able to learn so much from my peers and from my friends within this community. I have been able to grow as a person through becoming closer to peers and building a sense of trust with one another. I can vividly remember the unease I felt leaving my family, the warm weather and so many people behind in Singapore. But, since coming to Swarthmore, I have learned so much about myself and about the people around me and began to grow. Swat creates so many avenues for students to not only connect with each other, but to grow through listening and sharing their own journey before Swat. This community has allowed me to flourish in starting my new journey of life, with new friends and new faces to support me throughout.
