My name is Trang. When I was a little girl I lived in a small town named Nha Trang where farming and fishing were the traditional works. The city is well known for its beaches and an ancient Cham temple tower founded sometime before 781. I always wondered what the world was like, and if everyone was living the life like I did. There were many questions in my head, which made me want to explore the world and satisfy my curiosity when I grew up.

I consider myself as a lucky one in comparison to my peers. After I passed the college entry exam in Vietnam, I decided to study abroad, and I was lucky that my parents supported me 100% on the biggest decision I had ever made. I chose US because it offers a diversifying culture, where the chances to meet and learn from others is endless.

I first went to USF in Tampa and lived in dorm for a semester. I shared a room with another international student from Vietnam, went to classes with friends from Korea, Japan, Saudi Aribia, France, Germany, and more. It was an unforgettable experience in my life but after a short semester, I moved to live with my aunt’s family in St. Petersburg and began a new chapter of my life here at SPC. The education system here is different from the one in Vietnam. Each system has its own unique way to help students achieve their academic sides.

My goal is to get a Master Degree before I return to my home country, which I know will be a long time process. I chose St. Petersburg College to fulfill that long term goal, which saves me on tuition as well as living expenses.

Study abroad is truly a life changing experience for me. Living far away from my family teaches me how to stay strong to achieve my goals. It is a great opportunity that allows me to learn, to connect with people from different parts of the world, and to enrich my knowledge.

Knowing how lucky I am to be part of international student group, I would use my knowledge and experience to give back to the community as much as I have received from this study abroad experience. At SPC, I challenged myself to gain skills in areas that I was not comfortable with before. I will continue to push myself a lot to follow my curiosity and to always learn more.

Written by Trang Tran, SPC student.