Hey everyone, my name is Huey Yu, and I am an International student. I traveled here from a small island called Saba. It is only a 5 square mile island, and it is a beautiful island in the
Caribbean. Saba is an entity of the Netherlands or Holland; most people do not know they are the same, and that we are governed by them even though we are hundreds of miles away. Saba is also known as “The Unspoiled Queen” of the Caribbean. The name comes not only from the size of the island, but also from the beauty and the untouched nature life on the island. Saba is a great place to go for vacations because it is a place where you can go and just feel free.
What drove me here to SPC is that it is a community college where there is a lot of potential to meet people from the same country you are from. I made several friends who were from the Caribbean such as Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten. SPC is fantastic because it is smaller than a university, and it is very affordable. The atmosphere is great, and it is very relaxing and fun at the same time. Do not be discouraged, enjoy the time that you are going to have at SPC and the career that is ahead of you.
The transition to America was a little hard. When I first started, it was a little difficult making friends. Fortunately, in my first ESL class, I was able to make a few friends right away. I want to say to not be afraid to talk to others in your class. Living here in Florida is great. I get the feeling of being home because of the warm weather, and I live with my siblings which made me even more comfortable.
As a student you do not want to worry too much about not fitting in or thinking that people will not like you. Being a student here at St. Petersburg College, I was able to meet many fellow students and was able to make friends quickly. At first, I was that one guy that was shy and closed off because it was a new environment, and I was worried that people would judge me. Once I got comfortable in class, I was able to open up and start talking to several other students and became very social.
All you need to know is just be yourself and enjoy the life as a international student. Do not over think what could happen in the future. Just stay focused on the task at hand, and just take it day by day. Enjoy your time here and just keep in mind that you are here to become better and to learn what you want to learn, not what you need to learn. Follow what your heart wants and you will be able to get to where you want to be in no time.
-SPC international student, Huey Yu
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