Abigail Pollock | Echo
For many freshmen at Taylor University, the beginning of fall semester is marked by the Hoedown, first chapel or even their first college class. For some, however, their college experience begins well before Welcome Weekend.
International students and Third Culture Kids (TCKs) come from overseas to attend Taylor's International Orientation (I.O.) a week before most freshmen step onto campus. For these students, the days before Welcome Weekend may define much of their college experience, providing invaluable resources and support as they begin making Upland, Indiana home.
Fifty-five freshmen attended this year's I.O., one of the largest groups in recent history. Anila Karunakar, Assistant Director of International Orientation and Kelly Pengelly, International Student Programs Graduate Assistant, co-led I.O. with a team of 15 student leaders and the help of the Office of Intercultural Programs and other on-campus offices.
I.O. offers a balance of practical assistance, personal relationship and support, and the requisite orientation games and team building exercises that freshmen groan through at the time and reminisce about later. During the week-long program, freshmen set up banking accounts, walk through service and campus employment fairs, sit in academic and cultural panels facilitated by current students and enjoy an ethnic dinner cooked by the orientation staff.
Senior Esther Min has worked as I.O. staff every year after coming to Taylor as a Korean student who also grew up in Pakistan.
"I didn't have my parents help the way other students do, so coming here on my own I needed all the help I could get with learning about cultural differences, how to live completely independently from my parents and all the technical details of student life at Taylor," Min said.
"To be welcomed by (the I.O. staff) who understood my culture and background, and what I was going through, was a huge support emotionally . . . and was one of the biggest factors in helping me to adapt to Taylor."
The rest of Taylor's community also has an essential role to play in the transition process.
"You can welcome students into the community by expressing interest in who they are, and being willing to listen even when you don't directly relate to the stories they share," Pengelly said.
This advice goes both ways.
Esther Min pointed out that by the time classes begin, I.O. freshmen may already feel comfortable with Taylor and the Upland area, and can use their knowledge and past cross-cultural experience to help other freshmen who arrive during Welcome Weekend.
"For . . . students coming from overseas, as well as U.S. nationals, it is important to remember to reach out to others and initiate relationships that are outside your comfort zone," Min said.
For freshman Kiran George, who identifies home as "India and a suitcase," this process of settling into a new environment and building relationships blends seamlessly into his history of international communities and frequent transitions. Even the most experienced travelers, however, face culture shock and homesickness.
Kenyan national freshman Solomon Macharia shared that one unique struggle of international transition is the unique struggle to remain connected with friends and family across borders and time zones-a difficulty many college freshmen never have to worry about. Many I.O. students have parents living overseas as foreign missionaries or nationals, and experience a forced independence that can be very lonely.
"It's hard not to be able to call up my parents whenever I need to talk to them," Macharia said.
"You have to get creative with ways to let your friends and family know you are thinking about them" George added.
Supporting overseas families is a significant aspect of the I.O. mission. Parents of TCKs and internationals are invited to accompany their students through orientation, and are also involved in special sessions for prayer, sharing and Q-and-A informational meetings. In addition, and new to I.O. this year, is the participation of Taylor's Parent and Alumni Association.
"Sometimes parents have no interaction with Taylor between orientation and graduation, and the Parent and Alumni Association believes that Taylor can work to increase its efforts to bridge the gap between campus and parents living overseas," Pengelly said.
Parents often struggle with leaving their students to handle the transition alone, knowing they may not be available to help their children in an emergency or welcome them home over school breaks. The I.O. staff goes out of their way to ensure parents connect with the University and feel confident in the support networks available for students.
According to Pengelly, one of the most fulfilling aspects of the program is hearing from parents who come away encouraged by the student leadership, the Christ-centered worship and the caring support of student and adult staff.
"They tell us that to their families, the community at Taylor is a true representation of the Church, and there really is no higher praise than that," Pengelly said.
