My Journey so Far.

Today my blog is about my journey so far here at Ball State University. It's about my ups and downs here. Hope you would enjoy this writing. You would get to know how an international student feels when she comes out of her cocoons (her comfort zone). Hope it would help you to deal with the international students this spring semester.

Once my father told me, "you are here to fly in this world, you have your wings, just wait for the time and fly".

This sentence made my life. I always believe I can fly. When I got accepted for Ball State University this April, I really felt that my time has come to have my wings out, It's time to fly.

I came from a developing country and that is thousands of miles away from here. When I first stepped here, I found everything new and different. New country, new environment, new language, new friends, new experiences, new education system-everything was new to me. I came out of my comfort zone. Reality is something

At that time, I couldn't even concentrate on my studies. I tried hard, but I couldn't. I was literally frustrated.

different. Life became hard for me for the first few days. Most of the time, I used to feel like quitting. Everything was going against me. I was lagging behind. I got sick. Too many cultural shocks, I started to experience one by one. On the other hand, my courses were going on, I'm just seeing myself losing every day. However, I had nothing to do. I was losing control over myself even. "I was supposed to fly here but what am I doing" -this gruesome fear made me more frustrated. I didn't feel good to share with others. Because I had that fear too, like how the other person would take me if I share my problems. I got depressed and more depressed.

Then I took the hardest decision that I should share. Because I felt I can share as I was getting good vibes from the people around me.

Then I share my difficulties and complications with my mentor, Writing program director, classmates and others whom I found reliable. Luckily, my assumptions were wrong. They helped me a lot. I got their support. They made me realize again that I'm

They made me realize this. Love for them.

here for my own qualifications. So I have that potential to move further. I can't describe how important that was for me at that point. I feel so fortunate that I got enrollment in this department and I got people around me who are awesome by their heart. All of them are so graceful.

I felt relieved. I started feeling better and started trying to get into my studies. Still, now, I have to struggle a lot. But even then, I'm fine because I'm confident enough now. I found the track that I was about to lose. I got to learn how to handle situations. Probably, I'm not on the top rank, but I'm developing. And I believe, one day I would reach there. I would make it. Because I'm working hard. I believe one thing very much. That is - your hard work and endeavor can bring anything you want.

It's only up to me whether I want to see and go for it. I know I would stumble and I would stand up again and walk again. I have my supportive team with me as well (My lovely English Department).💕💕

I'm struggling still now but I can see my progress too. That seems the light of hope to me. I'm developing myself every day. If I compare to my first class to the last class, I taught, there's a tremendous change. I grew up confidence in myself. I can hold my class. On the first day, I saw some of my students sleeping, having blank faces but in the last class, I saw them very much attentive and I could see they were getting things, they were understanding my point. That's the thing I want. I don't want my class to be hampered. I can see these in changes in me, that makes me happy. And I'm working on it continuously. I know I'm not good enough yet. But I'm assiduous to bring in those skills in myself. I want to succeed, succeed as a teacher. And I want you all to stand by my side like this always.

Thank you, peers. Thank you, Jennifer. Thanks, Will And Zach for your lovely comments and helping with suggestions. Thanks to my English team.

This gives me inspiration.