Sharing International Perspectives
International student essay contest serves as an important platform for international student stories and perspectives
Growing up in Pakistan, Zainab Atoofa dreamed of exploring international cuisines. When she first arrived in the United States, Atoofa struggled to connect with her peers from other parts of the world. But she soon realized her love for food could serve as the perfect cross-cultural icebreaker.
“At events like the International Coffee Hour, I began meeting students from Turkey, Iran, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Mexico and Korea,” the University of Delaware student wrote in her submission to the 2024 International Student Essay Contest. “Our conversations often started with talks of favorite dishes, family recipes and stories about foods that reminded us of home. Each exchange deepened my understanding of the people I met, and food quickly became a universal language that bridged our differences.”
Atoofa’s story, “Crossing Comfort Zones: A Journey of Global Friendship,” earned first place in the 2024 international student essay contest in the graduate student category. Throughout her essay, the public policy doctoral student explained how these interactions shaped her entire international student experience.
“What began as a simple curiosity about food became a powerful tool for connection, bridging cultural gaps and fostering a sense of community,” Atoofa wrote. “Through these culinary experiences, I have come to see food as more than just a meal; it’s a means of building friendships, sharing heritage and creating lasting memories.”
Each year, the international student essay contest provides international students, like Atoofa, with a platform to share their perspectives with the greater University community. Launched in 2013, the Center for Global Programs and Services has since invited the Division of Student Life and Graduate College to collaborate on the program to continue this important tradition.
According to Ravi Ammigan, associate provost for international programs at UD, the tradition began as a way to give students the opportunity to share their experiences and for the campus community to “walk a mile in their shoes.” Over the past decade, the impact of international student voices has expanded, with Ammigan’s 2021 Cross Cultural Narratives: Stories and Experiences of International Students featuring past essay contest submissions. The narratives are a resource for first-year seminar classes at UD and similar efforts to promote intercultural understanding in universities and their communities around the world.
“In reviewing these student experiences, we use a qualitative approach to understand our students’ needs and expectations of the university,” said Ammigan, a former international student himself. “While these narratives help us develop our support and engagement strategies, they also provide valuable content to increase cultural awareness on our campus.”
To honor the stories submitted by all contest participants, CGPS hosted a reception at International Coffee Hour on Nov. 15, kicking off International Education Week. During the event, winners were formally celebrated and presented the $500 grand prizes and $250 prizes for second place. In addition, winning essays were displayed in Trabant University Center among a selection of favorite quotes and advice from all submissions.
Associate director of international student engagement and success Vina Titaley felt it was crucial that all essay writers were acknowledged and received gifts of appreciation at the event.
“Our judges were so impressed by all of the essays submitted this year,” she said. “These stories come from the heart and give us valuable insight into what it’s like to be a new member of a community. They remind us of the unique struggles international students can face, and the important qualities like grit, perseverance and flexibility that they strengthen throughout their time at UD.”
Titaley said CGPS uses feedback from the essays, along with data from the International Student Barometer — in which UD was ranked first in the world in immigration support services last year — to improve the services UD offers to help welcome, orient and support international students.
During the 2024 contest, student writers explored a variety of topics, including transitioning to campus, navigating culture shock, overcoming fears, uncovering misconceptions, participating in extracurricular programs, embracing a new community and finding a home away from home.
For Somin Park, who earned first place in the undergraduate student division, extracurricular interests were critical to her transition to the United States.
In an effort to connect with her classmates, Park, a biomedical engineering major, introduced her friends to the world of Taekwondo, a martial art deeply rooted in her Korean culture. On weekends, she volunteers at a local Korean school, teaching Taekwondo to second-generation Korean Americans.
“Today, I no longer yearn for the familiarity and comfort of Korea,” Park wrote. “I have come to realize that being different is not a flaw to be hidden but a virtue to be celebrated. I embrace the uniqueness of my Korean culture as a passionate Taekwondo practitioner and have learned to simply be myself.”
Meanwhile, Soffie Paul, an undergraduate student from India studying cognitive science, found that embracing differences is as valuable as finding similarities with others. In her essay, which received an honorable mention, she offered a piece of valuable advice for fellow students.
“Ask the questions. Wear the cultural outfit. Try to speak the language. Put aside your assumptions and remember that kindness is not silence,” she wrote. “You will never know the meaning until you ask, so ask with love, and I ensure you will value what you hear and the excitement you see on people’s faces when they notice your curiosity.”
Additional winners of the 2024 international student essay contest include:
- Audin Francois, M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language student, graduate second place
- Eva Kourlesi, undergraduate second place
- Shubhi Bajpai, honorable mention
- Danbi Lee, honorable mention
To learn more about the international student experience and read past essay contest winners, visit the contest webpage.
About the Center for Global Programs and Services
The Center for Global Programs and Services (CGPS) at the University of Delaware is home to the operations of UD Global, which includes Study Abroad, International Student and Scholar Services, World Scholars Program and Global Outreach and Partnerships. The Center provides leadership and collaborative innovation in support of all of the University’s global initiatives and campus internationalization efforts, with its Global 360 Strategy serving as a roadmap for infusing international perspectives throughout the University’s scholarship, research, and service missions. Focused on a student-centered approach, CGPS provides expert advising and a wealth of global engagement opportunities to the UD campus community, including the weekly International Coffee Hour in the fall and spring semesters.
Follow and engage with @UDGlobal on Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest updates on everything global happening at UD.
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Photos courtesy of Center for Global Programs and Services.