An Unexpected Journey...

Am I in a movie? That was exactly what I thought about when landing in Chicago...I thought that I would feel completely different being on another continent, 9000 miles from home. From the day I landed in Chicago, I was in a movie, which I didn’t expect to become a part of.

I remember the day I left home... I remember the unforgettable feeling of fresh air touching my face when I stepped out of the door that day. Carrying two big suitcases with me and pretending as if I were a strong muscular guy. I looked at the bright blue sky and all I could feel was freedom and a strange feeling of something completely unknown coming into my life. I remember being silent when my uncle drove me to the airport as well as I could feel my mom’s stare at me all the way. I couldn’t say anything. I was just looking at my country’s beautiful landscapes in the window and thinking: «How on Earth can I handle 3 flights being completely alone...? »

I remember the realization of full responsibility for myself I felt when saying goodbye to my mom at the airport. I was on my own then, which was both the best and the hardest part of my journey.

But, wait, what journey?

My Global UGRAD journey.

I will never have enough words to describe how grateful I am to be a Global UGRAD Alumni. And I will never be tired of telling people why they have to apply for that program. That’s probably my job now. Simply to tell people that they can. That they can leave all the fears and insecurities behind.

Why did I decide to take part in the Global UGRAD Program?

This opportunity came to me by accident. One of my friends posted it on social media, I saw that and something clicked in me right away. I just felt in my heart that I cannot let my inner child down as I will simply regret if I don’t give it all a shot. So I did. I gave it a shot and it worked out. That’s why I am here, telling people that they can do it too.

To be honest, the application process for Global UGRAD was kind of scary for a freshman girl that I was then. It seemed complicated to get my transcript from the dean’s department as exchange programs are hardly encouraged at my university. Another quest was to ask the professors to write recommendation letters for me as well as to find the inspiration needed for making a decent essay.

I didn’t know what to expect after I had submitted my application form. I was just patiently waiting and hoping that something was awaiting for me. And it actually was. I remember how much joy and excitement I felt when a person from the US Embassy in Minsk called me and invited me for an interview, which took place about three weeks later. I successfully passed an interview, then took my TOEFL exam and eventually became a finalist of Global UGRAD Program.

The program coordinators placed me in Emporia State University, which I am truly thankful for. However, when I first received a message from them, telling me that I was placed in Emporia, I got really disappointed... Why? I simply looked this town up in browser and it showed me that it’s a small town in Kansas with the population of 25.000 people. So, the only thought that came to my mind was: «Well, okay mom, I am gonna end up in that village...» Actually, I am glad I didn’t have any expectations, as when I got there, that «village» showed me the brightest life I could ever imagine.

I can recall exactly what I felt when my plane landed in Chicago... Another continent, another people, another mentality. I thought I’d be completely alone there, without any friends. That’s the reason I was anxiously planning my solo trip to New York, having no clue that I would meet so many soulmates to explore it all together.

I remember myself wandering at KCI(Kansas City International Airport) after my third flight and looking there for people who were supposed to take me to Emporia. And already there, right at the airport, I met a cute Korean girl, who then became my best friend. We were talking all the way to Emporia and it seemed as if I got to know her a long time ago. We were on a small bus with some other international students, everybody of us fascinated by the breathtaking landscapes and sunsets that Kansas can boast of as well as by aesthetic country music turned on by the driver.

How did I impact the program and what impact it had on me?

Well, one of the main aims of the Global UGRAD Program is to find students who are truly passionate about leadership and community service. Community service is an aspect of life that is placed on top according to America’s culture. And I completely agree that it should be.

Serving your community is about giving without any expectations. Helping others and getting true pleasure by doing so, doing it from the bottom of your heart. I believe that community service nurtures people’s personality, it shows them the happiness that can be found in small things like daily acts of kindness, selflessness, respect and love.

So it nurtured my character too. I was a part of on-campus volunteering organization «GIVE"(Getting Involved with Volunteering in Emporia) and I was lucky to have an amazing team, mostly consisting of other international students.

The greatest thing that I was gifted with was my community. I was surrounded by international students, as international students usually stick together. I know you would ask why. Probably because we are just people who had enough courage to go to a different country, to simply leave our usual life behind. I guess we stick together because we bring diversity into the world’s community. We all dress differently, we all have different accents, we all have different cultures, but we are always open to new experiences. I think that it is definitely something that unites all of us. It made me feel that I was a part of a big international family. We organized all of our trips across the US on our own, desperately trying to discover as many places as possible, but at the same time we were so engaged in social life at Emporia State University, that we took part in almost every event possible. I learned a lot about American culture during the 4 months that I spent there. I remember my astonishment when I saw boys wearing shorts and crocks in winter, Americans drinking everything with ice and being truly confused by them using their cars even when it’s a five-minute walk to get somewhere. I missed my homemade hot tea most of all, as Americans drink iced coffee from Starbucks almost all of the time...

However, being an exchange student is not only about being a part of a community, but also about standing out and showing yourself as an individual who knows their purpose and who came there to be a true changemaker. I was there to tell other people about my culture, to show them what it is to be a Belarusian girl. Not everybody even knew that such a country as Belarus even exists. My job was to explain our traditions, habits, our way of life. This journey was so much about learning and giving people your own knowledge, sharing my insights along the way. It was also about being able to change my views on certain things in life, as being in a different culture for quite a long period of time made me perceive my life differently, it made me adaptable to change. To change my habits, values as well as the way of life.

But what happened then..?

When I came back home from my unforgettable trip, I struggled from reversed culture shock and jet lag. It was the first time me actually experiencing such things. I didn’t know how to adapt to being back home after spending 4 months in a completely different environment, it seemed that I lost my purpose. But I knew deep in my heart that I came back to make a change. I came back to make the life of my community better. But I didn’t know how to do it...

It was summer and I thought to myself: «Well, Arina, let’s get you occupied!» However, in reality it didn’t turn out to be so easy to find some occupation. I struggled with finding a job, which would at least somehow correspond with my major. Every day I was constantly searching for vacancies, but it was all unsuccessful. So I decided to go to my hometown, Baranovichi, and apply for a waiter’s position at a local restaurant. Though, after me being an intern there for a couple of shifts, the administration members told me they didn’t need a waiter anymore. I did my best to stay positive, but my life seemed to be filled with darkness, I was losing my hope. But then, suddenly, I was offered a position of a cashier at an ice-cream shop and I took that opportunity.

Nevertheless, I still felt as if I were not in the right place. After one month of working, my new semester at the university was about to start. I had to take 12 exams in September to be able to continue my studies, as I had to take an academic break in order to spend a semester in the USA. I passed the exams and then began exploring the world of exchange programs again. I was so passionate about it, that I could spend hours looking into the whole bunch of new programs. It was one of my ways to make myself feel alive.

And not so long ago Global UGRAD Program came into my life again, but in a slightly different way. I became some sort of a mentor for future applicants. I was sharing my experience on social media, telling people why they need to give it a try. I was telling everyone I knew about the program. And people actually started reaching out to me, which I was truly grateful for. It was such a pleasure for me to guide other students through the application process, to explain to them how to get all the necessary documents as well as to solve all the arising issues together. I cannot even express how at ease I felt doing that. It just came natural, because this desire to help others during the application process came from the bottom of my heart. I actually realized that I can spend hours just assisting and guiding others. It was one of the best realizations ever, because now my purpose in life seems to be clearer.

That is the change I bring to the community. My change is about inspiring others, leading them, assisting them and sharing my knowledge with them. I feel that it’s my mission now. The mission of creating a community of students who are constantly evolving and seeking for new opportunities and adventures in their lives, so that all of them can once find their own movie scenario and become its producers.

Here is the link for the video about my Global UGRAD journey. Enjoy!