Tips for international students wanting to make the most of their experience abroad 

The best advice I could give to anyone who’s thinking of studying abroad and wishing to make the most of their experience is this: get involved.

“Action is the foundational key for all success” Pablo Picasso

Whether it is joining a society or club, becoming an ambassador, or attending one of the wide variety of events happening on campus, student life is full of opportunities. Here at Maynooth University, student life is vibrant and diverse, with something for everyone. By engaging in activities outside lectures, you’ll not only make friends but also create lifelong memories.

My experience 

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to take part in an event organised by Education in Ireland as part of my international student ambassador role. We experienced Gaelic Games. It was my first time playing hurling, Gaelic football and handball – not to mention ‘Céilí’, the traditional Irish dance! This experience highlighted the authenticity and uniqueness of Irish sports identity, embodying the Irish spirit of having good craic! And just like everything in life, we should try to aim to have fun and enjoy no matter what we’re doing.

These experiences are a reminder of that: university life is not just about academics. It’s also about embracing the opportunities, making friends and networking, learning something new outside the classroom, and especially, having fun! You need to put yourself out there to find what life can offer and seize all the possibilities. This is something I need to remind myself when times get busy with assignments and exams; however, I can guarantee you that there’s always time to enjoy activities outside lectures, as long as you put your mind into it! By getting involved, you get yourself known and find new unique opportunities and life lessons.

Tips for Success: Being Ambitious and Goal-driven

And this applies to everything: if you want to make a change in your life, then you’ll need more action and less thought.

Ambition will be your guide in your journey – don’t let your dreams be limited by anything. Despite money issues, visa requirements, and other factors, there’s always a way to get there. As someone close to me said once: ‘Choose your dream and we’ll find the way to make it happen!’ The uniqueness of experiencing a cultural exchange is invaluable and it’s worth the effort.

When you go abroad, you need a goal-driven attitude and an open mentality so that you don’t close yourself doors but rather are able to identify a good chance to shine.

And that’s what I did.

As someone coming from a disadvantaged background, I faced challenges in my journey. Having been born in Venezuela, I was a victim of, and consequently, was afraid of, discrimination after immigrating due to my country’s current situation. I also witnessed a small mentality that didn’t encourage studying abroad too much. I realised that in order to bloom in this life, one has to ‘think outside of the box’ and have an open mind to ‘catch’ all possibilities. Having dreams is what made me keep trying and shooting higher until I could finally study abroad as I always wanted. We found the financial resources, I studied hard to get into college, and I couldn’t be happier and prouder to be studying in Ireland. Maynooth University provided a home away from home as I was well received and so, all my fear and submissiveness went away.  

Conclusion

So, for you who are reading this thinking if Ireland is for you, if studying abroad is possible, let me tell you: it is. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind and take part in anything that is presented to you. Embrace every moment, it’s your journey after all, and you deserve to be part of it. It’s natural to be afraid of novelty and change, to get homesick; but once you’ve experienced what it is like to study abroad and start your journey, you’ll get to make so many new memories and bring them back home with you.