IGSP Ambassadors

And in the blink of an eye, my dream of becoming an Ivy League student became a reality. Since I was accepted into the International Guest Student Program this year, I could not have imagined the number of experiences that were yet to come.

Just before fall break, what should have been a relaxed day on campus felt unexpectedly tense for me. While many students were preparing to leave, I sat at my desk revising the same emails and interview outlines again and again.

When I arrived in Philadelphia, I genuinely believed I would be on my own. I came without knowing whether anyone from my home university would also be here, and I had mentally prepared myself for the challenge of starting from zero—socially, academically, and personally.

When I realized it, three months had already passed since I first arrived in Philadelphia, with fall just settling onto campus, and as I enter my final month here, I’m becoming even more aware of how meaningful each moment has been.

If there is one thing I would want future International Guest Student Program students to take away, it is this: growth does not come from comfort. It comes from standing in the middle of a place that feels nothing like home and slowly making it your own.

Spontaneity is fun, but if you want to make the most of your semester, you have to do some planning. These five months may seem long, but time flies in the US.