SUNY Jamestown Community College’s student union came alive Wednesday with a flurry of music, food, language, and clothing from around the world.
In celebration of International Education Week, the college held its annual Go Global! Fair at its Jamestown Campus. Many of JCC’s record 72 international students from 26 countries participated.
Students, staff, and faculty were given mini passports that were stamped as they traveled around the union to tables coordinated by international students representing 14 countries.
The event was an opportunity for the students to showcase the culture of their homelands and for those attending to learn about life in those countries.
Since arriving at JCC in July and August, it has been the other way around for the college’s international students, many of whom are living in a foreign country for the first time. They have been immersed with getting acquainted with how things work in the U.S., and they are thankful for the new experiences.
“I always wanted to study abroad since I was 13 or 14,” said Paula Legarra, a human services major from Spain who plans on staying in the U.S. and working in the mental health field. “I always knew that I wanted to come to the States.”
For JCC's international students, going to college in the U.S. gives them the freedom to explore and follow their career aspirations.
“In South Africa,” said Belinda Paine, a media arts student, “you have to know where you’re going in life. You have to come out of high school knowing what you want to be and where you want to go. Here, there’s so much focus on the process of learning and you don’t have to exactly know everything right now. It’s OK to take things one step at a time.”
As such, many aren’t sure what their future holds. Most want to continue schooling in the U.S. Some are considering staying for their careers, while others are set on returning home.
“My goal was to study abroad, whether it was in the U.S. or Canada,” said Nonjabulo Mathebula, another South African. “I didn’t want to stay in my country. It’s better to get experience from other countries for me to utilize in my country.”
Mathebula, who plays on JCC’s women’s basketball team, is studying business administration and has aspirations for a career in international business or supply chain management.
Javier Garcia, also an athlete, is one of 19 international students on the men’s soccer team. He would like to transfer to a four-year university to study mechanical technology.
“I was more focused on competing in sports,” Garcia said about coming overseas. “But JCC stood out because they were recognized in my field, my major. It was the best option from the ones I had.”
Kim Magidhi, from South Africa and Garcia’s teammate, is studying computer science and has the goal of playing NCAA Division I soccer after JCC. Because of the pandemic and complications in securing a U.S. visa, he had to wait a year to come to campus.
“It pushed everything back for me, but it turned out for the best because I’m here now and I have improved in soccer and I’m meeting new people,” he said. “I’m glad.”
Santru Mohan, a tourism and hospitality major from India, has lofty ambitions after college. He wants to make tourism more accessible and affordable to all, “regardless of income and background.”
He is here thanks to the Community College Initiative (CCI) Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by Northern Virginia Community College. Coming to the U.S. to learn has long been a dream of Mohan’s, who said “he couldn’t afford it without the CCI program.”
“I want to get trained under the experts so I can understand tourism better,” he added.
Many international students take the community component of Jamestown Community College to heart. During the fair, several helped lead a drum circle, music playing, crafts, mehndi (a form of body art), and food tastings while wearing traditional garb from their countries.
“I think if you were to go around campus and ask someone if they know so and so who is (an international) student, they would say yes,” said Lena Young, CCI program coordinator. “They’re integrated very well with the student body. Many of them are on the Student Senate and involved with clubs. They’re very active on campus.”
From her office across the hall from the student union, Hannah Pruch, JCC’s global learning coordinator, said she spends a lot of time waving to international students, “which they probably think is weird, but I can’t stop myself.”
“They’re valuable members of our community,” she added. “Everyone is pleased to know them and have them in their classes and have them as their classmates. It’s a good place to come to feel a part of something.”
Nationally since 2007, the CCI Program has hosted more than 3,400 participants from 21 countries. This U.S. Department of State program is administered by Northern Virginia Community College in cooperation with the NOVA-led Community College Consortium, of which JCC is a member. For further information, please contact the NOVA CCI Program Team at CCCIP@nvcc.edu and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at eca-press@state.gov. Learn more at https://www.nvcc.edu/ccip/.