International Student Stories brought to you by Study in the USA

International Student Stories brought to you by Study in the USA
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Education

Our mission is to support, educate and celebrate the international student and higher education communities by providing a platform to share authentic stories and exchange ideas. We aim to unite people. To better appreciate and understand our differences, while recognizing our similarities and shared dreams. To inspire and uplift people. To create a more welcoming environment for all individuals. One voice at a time. One story at a time.

  1. 10h ago

    From Ukraine to LACC, Hollywood & Anime. Oleksii Grytsenko's Unexpected Journey.

    What happens when the career you imagined takes an unexpected turn? When Oleksii Grytsenko arrived in Los Angeles from Ukraine in 2017, he had one goal: to improve his English. He had studied criminal law back home, but a fascination with the English language, sparked partly by his love of rock music, eventually led him across the world. What he didn't expect was to discover a passion for filmmaking. In this episode of STUDYspeaks: LACC Podcast Residency, Oleksii joins host Soleil Perrin to share his journey from Ukraine to Los Angeles City College, where he studied Cinema Production, worked with the International Student Program, and discovered the excitement of working on film sets. After graduating in 2023, Oleksii faced another unexpected challenge: the Hollywood strikes. With film production opportunities suddenly limited, a connection through a friend opened a different door, leading to a position as a Digital Asset Coordinator at Crunchyroll, the Japanese anime streaming platform. Oleksii also reflects on building friendships across cultures, missing his twin brother, navigating the uncertainty of international student life, and finding the courage to create a future far from home. It's a conversation about following curiosity, embracing unexpected opportunities, and discovering that the path you take doesn't always look like the one you planned. His advice to future international students? Don't be afraid to try. You'll never know what's possible until you do.

    From Ukraine to LACC, Hollywood & Anime. Oleksii Grytsenko's Unexpected Journey.

  2. Sep 16

    I Grew Wings Later in Life: Dr. Sobia Khan on Education, Persistence & Possibility

    A podcast residency presented by Study in the USA in partnership with Los Angeles City College  ·  Host: Soleil Perrin What happens when your path doesn’t unfold on the timeline you expected? Dr. Sobia Khan came to the United States from Pakistan as a young international student, wife, and mother. With three children, no extended family nearby, and limited resources, she took night classes, swapped childcare with a friend, and spent ten years earning her bachelor’s degree. What followed was a journey she could never have imagined: a master’s and PhD, a career as an English professor, and eventually leadership roles at community colleges across the country. Today, she serves as Vice President of Academic Affairs at Los Angeles City College. khan.docxDOCX In this episode Dr. Khan talks with Soleil Perrin about growing up in Pakistan, finding freedom in books and writing, building a life as an international student in the U.S., and discovering her own path to leadership. They explore the power of community colleges, belonging, persistence, and why there is no single timeline for building a meaningful life. It’s a conversation about education as transformation, finding your voice, and continuing to raise your hand when opportunity appears.

    I Grew Wings Later in Life: Dr. Sobia Khan on Education, Persistence & Possibility

  3. Aug 27

    Finding Your Creative Path: Luis Martinez on Game Design, LACC & UCLA

    What happens when college gives you the chance to rewrite the story you thought had already been written for you? When Luis Martinez finished high school, he felt defeated and unsure whether higher education was even in his future. Los Angeles City College gave him a place to start again. What began with a visit to an enrollment fair led Luis to discover LACC’s Game Art and Design program, mentors who believed in him, and a creative community that helped him recognize his own potential.  In this episode of International Student Stories, host Soleil Perrin talks with Luis about game design, digital storytelling, world-building and the power of diverse voices in gaming. Luis shares how he turns personal experiences and culture into interactive art, from a playful cactus sheriff fighting pollution to a horror game inspired by La Llorona that explores mental health, folklore and identity.  He also reflects on transferring from LACC to UCLA, the difficult personal period that accompanied that transition, and the professors, friends and counselors who continued supporting him even after he left LACC. Today, as he prepares to graduate from UCLA in Design Media Arts, Luis is thinking about what comes next, including the possibility of someday becoming an educator himself.  His advice to students still figuring out their own path is wonderfully simple: explore, make connections, find what you're passionate about, and don't put so much pressure on yourself.

    Finding Your Creative Path: Luis Martinez on Game Design, LACC & UCLA

  4. Aug 11

    From Refugee to College President: Dr. Amanuel Gebru on Mentorship, Access & Global Education

    What does it take to go from a young refugee learning English in a new country to leading one of the most diverse community colleges in America? In this episode of International Student Stories, host Soleil Perrin sits down with Dr. Amanuel Gebru, President of Los Angeles City College, to explore a remarkable journey shaped by resilience, mentorship, and the transformative power of education. Dr. Gebru reflects on immigrating to the United States at the age of eight, navigating life as a first-generation college student, and the teachers, counselors, coaches, and mentors who helped him discover opportunities he never imagined. Along the way, he shares why community colleges are one of higher education's greatest engines of access, opening doors for students from every background and every stage of life. Together, they discuss global education, the importance of belonging, LACC's vibrant international community, and why creating a welcoming campus can change the trajectory of a student's life. Dr. Gebru also shares how mentorship has shaped his own career and why he believes every student deserves someone who believes in their potential. Whether you're an international student, an educator, or simply someone who believes in the power of opportunity, this conversation is a reminder that where you begin doesn't define where you can go.

    From Refugee to College President: Dr. Amanuel Gebru on Mentorship, Access & Global Education

  5. Jul 16

    Set, Spike, Scholarship: A Student-Athlete's Journey

    International Student Stories – Episode featuring Luisa In this episode, we sit down with Luisa, a German international student who came to the US to play volleyball on scholarship at Madonna University — and ended up building a career as a television news reporter at Fox 47 in Lansing, Michigan. Luisa shares what it was really like to leave her hometown of Potsdam, Germany, navigate a new language and culture, and push herself out of her comfort zone at every turn — from working as a barista to producing a campus talk show. She opens up about the mental challenges of competing at the college level, the ups and downs of breaking into broadcast journalism with a strong accent, and why she believes international students should always say their dreams out loud. Whether you're an international student yourself, an athlete thinking about studying abroad, or someone who loves an honest story about grit and reinvention — this one's for you. Topics covered: Growing up in Potsdam, GermanyComing to the US on a volleyball scholarshipAdjusting to American culture and overcoming the language barrierStudying broadcast journalism at Madonna UniversityLanding a job as an on-air TV reporterTips for improving your English accentAdvice for international students chasing big dreams

    Set, Spike, Scholarship: A Student-Athlete's Journey

  6. Mar 10

    Empowering Fellow Students — Turning Challenges into Opportunities

    Liberty Hombe is an advocate for justice — the ultimate example of someone who turns challenges into opportunities. Liberty is a pre-med student born in Zimbabwe but spent much of his childhood in South Africa. He is attending Minnesota State University in Mankato and has started several student organizations that help improve the lives of international students. Today, you can find Liberty empowering students to find their voice as he himself exemplifies the change he wants to see in the world. This is his story.

    Empowering Fellow Students — Turning Challenges into Opportunities

  7. Feb 13

    The Psychology of Test-Taking: How to Crush Anxiety and Succeed in Life

    SEASON 3 — EPISODE 7The Psychology of Test-Taking: How to Crush Anxiety and Succeed in Life Dr. Dimitrios Vonofakos joins us to continue the conversation sparked in our previous episode, “Life’s Pop Quiz: The Unexpected Lessons of a Grad School Exam,” alongside Anish Merchant. But this time, we go deeper. Drawing from his background in psychoanalysis and his work at Merchant GMAT & Admissions, Dr. Dimitrios explores the psychological foundations of test-taking — unpacking why anxiety arises, how fear manifests, and what mental frameworks actually help students perform at their highest level. This conversation moves beyond the GMAT. Dr. D reframes test anxiety as something universal — a metaphor for the fear, comparison, perfectionism, and self-doubt we face in everyday life. Through thoughtful insight and practical strategies, he shares how students (and professionals) can navigate mental blocks, apply structured problem-solving frameworks, and learn when it’s okay to “skip” — not every problem needs to be solved immediately. This episode is not just about crushing anxiety on an exam. It’s about developing the mindset to face life’s biggest challenges with clarity, confidence, and resilience. Episode Summary 01:52 – Dimitrios reflects on a cherished childhood photo and early influences.  03:15 – His journey to studying psychoanalysis at the University of Essex.  05:10 – How he integrates psychoanalytic principles into his work at Merchant GMAT & Admissions.  06:31 – What first sparked his interest in the GMAC and standardized testing psychology.  07:28 – If the GMAT were a person, how would he describe it?  08:16 – What the GMAT is actually trying to bring out in test-takers.  09:02 – Why fear is the greatest challenge students face during high-stakes exams.  10:37 – The gap between score-improvement promises and psychological reality.  11:47 – How people truly deal with anxiety.  14:40 – Frameworks Merchant uses to navigate mental blocks and test anxiety.  18:18 – The GMAT as a metaphor for the psychological challenges of life.  21:51 – The concept of “skipping” — and why you don’t have to solve everything at once.  22:56 – Two essential insights for navigating both exams and life’s pressures.  25:40 – How to connect with Merchant GMAT & Admissions.

    The Psychology of Test-Taking: How to Crush Anxiety and Succeed in Life

  8. Feb 13

    Life’s Pop Quiz: The Unexpected Lessons of Grad School Exams

    SEASON 3 — EPISODE 6Life’s Pop Quiz: The Unexpected Lessons of Grad School Exams Anish Merchant often references “The Hero’s Journey” — the timeless story of a protagonist who leaves home in search of belonging, only to discover that the journey itself reshapes who they are. Inspired by that narrative, Anish left the United States in pursuit of his own grand adventure. His path led him to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he discovered not only a new home, but a new calling. What could have been the conclusion of one chapter instead marked the beginning of another. That next chapter became Merchant GMAT & Admissions, Anish’s company dedicated to helping students navigate the GMAT, graduate admissions, and the deeper lessons embedded in the process. For Anish, the GMAT isn’t just a standardized exam — it’s a metaphor for life: structured thinking, resilience under pressure, strategic risk-taking, and confronting the fear of failure. In this episode, Anish reflects on adventure, entrepreneurship, MBA culture, and why exams — much like life — are less about perfection and more about growth. Episode Summary 02:53 – The meaning behind Anish’s name.  03:39 – How seeking adventure led him to Buenos Aires and changed his life trajectory.  05:58 – What resonated so deeply with him about Argentina.  07:05 – The origins of Merchant GMAT & Admissions.  10:44 – How Anish views the role of an MBA degree in someone’s life.  12:05 – Why the GMAT or MBA should be seen as a means to an end, not the end itself.  14:48 – The importance of knowing what you don’t want, as much as what you do want.  18:47 – Comparing the MBA journey to the broader path of life.  19:34 – How the GMAT serves as a metaphor for resilience and structured problem-solving.  21:40 – Breaking down the thinking frameworks embedded within the GMAT.  24:15 – Addressing the fear of failure and how it limits potential.  26:35 – How working in international education transformed his own path.  28:00 – His favorite superhero — and the superpower he’d choose.

    Life’s Pop Quiz: The Unexpected Lessons of Grad School Exams
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Our mission is to support, educate and celebrate the international student and higher education communities by providing a platform to share authentic stories and exchange ideas. We aim to unite people. To better appreciate and understand our differences, while recognizing our similarities and shared dreams. To inspire and uplift people. To create a more welcoming environment for all individuals. One voice at a time. One story at a time.

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