Longwood students got a chance to learn more about international students and opportunities right here on campus this week. Whether students were on their way to class or their way to the dining hall, the simple stop on Brock Commons gave them an eye opening perspective.
Thursday gave an opportunity for Longwood students and faculty to gain a new perspective on international students and studying abroad. Longwood’s Global Leaders hosted an activity at Brock Commons that allowed students to have a physical and visual example of how they fit into the relationship with our world as a whole. Students were asked the question, “How can you be a global citizen?” The answers were written on green post-it notes which were then combined together to form a tree, the answers of the students making up the leaves of the tree.
Longwood’s Global Leaders play a huge role for international students, as a peer mentor would for an average incoming student. Global Leaders are in charge of picking up new international students at airports, helping them move in and helping them adjust to their new home here on campus.
“I believe that our efforts make the international students feel more comfortable adjusting not only to campus life, but American culture as well,” said Benjamin Lambert, a Global Leader.
“They take something away from us. I chose to be a Global Leader because I wanted to not only learn about different cultures around the world but to also help international students learn about our culture as Americans,” Lambert added.
Students were asked to write down on a bright sticky note, what they could do to become a global citizen. Answers varied from "Learn another language," "Be one with mother nature," and "Be kind to all."
Lambert’s international student from Saudi Arabia, Helal Almutairi, has been helping him learn Arabic while Lambert helps him learn more about our American culture; it’s a win-win situation for both parties. Almutairi is here on scholarship and enjoys Longwood because of the environment that it provides for students. He also favors how Longwood’s professors allow their students to study at a comfortable pace and plans to major in computer science.
“We learn from each other,” said Lambert.
“They (the Global Leaders) were the first people I encountered from Longwood University, and they helped me move to campus,” said Almutairi. “They showed me everything I needed to know.”
Global Leaders also assist with the orientation program led by the Office of International Affairs. This is where Global Leaders help international students set up their Lancer Cards, make sure they have their insurance and phone plans are in place and ensure they know where everything is located on campus.
“We make sure that they are prepped and ready to go by the time their first day of classes start,” said Lambert. “Each Global Leader is assigned a new student that we are responsible for keeping in contact with, helping them with anything they need during the school year and mostly doing activities and social events together. Global Leaders also help to tutor students who may not understand material in their classes.”
The event continued in the Lankford Ballroom at the Study Abroad Fair. Students and faculty were able to explore all the different study abroad options that are available as a Lancer as well as gain more information on the Global Leaders program.
Students were asked to write down on a bright sticky note, what they could do to become a global citizen. Answers varied from "Learn another language," "Be one with mother nature," and "Be kind to all."
Students were asked to write down on a bright sticky note, what they could do to become a global citizen. Answers varied from "Learn another language," "Be one with mother nature," and "Be kind to all."
Students were asked to write down on a bright sticky note, what they could do to become a global citizen. Answers varied from "Learn another language," "Be one with mother nature," and "Be kind to all."
One of the students sticky notes from the event.
