CCSU hosted students from partner universities across the globe and welcomed them to the Central community.
International students play a key role in enriching the entire campus, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Being an exchange student has presented itself with its memorable moments, accomplishing goals that have been set to realizing dreams that didn’t seem possible.
International students Patrick Dittus and Yourim Huh have been at Central for the fall semester and have realized their potential with their study abroad experience.
Dittus is an exchange student from the University of Hohenheim in Germany, studying international business.
“I really enjoy different cultures and talking to people from different cultures,” Dittus said. “I love the people that I have met here, it’s really nice to get to know their culture here and how they look at things, to show them my culture, the German perspective.”
Having a language barrier is one of the challenges for international students, but Dittus explains how speaking the language has helped him grow his confidence.
Exposing yourself to traveling and exploring new places is all part of making the most while studying abroad.
“I love to travel and I was able to see a lot of this beautiful country and feel like it’s been a part of my personal growth and I’ve gone to spaces outside of my comfort zone,” he said.
Huh is an exchange student from the Jeonbuk National University in South Korea, studying English.
“When I moved to the U.S. alone, the biggest thing I learned was how to enjoy life by myself,” she said.
Embracing the culture shock and doing small things like trying new food spots or going shopping in a new place is all part of the exchange experience.
“They were very small things, but they made me feel more confident and independent,” Huh said.
“I also traveled with friends later to places like New York, Niagara Falls, Boston and Miami. Travelling during the semester showed me how big the world is and how much you can learn by stepping out of your comfort zone.”
Huh gave advice on how to make the most out of the study abroad experience.
“Don’t be afraid to try things alone. Just go out there, explore, talk to people and let the experiences come to you,” She said.
