Adjusting to College Life: Advice from a Sophomore International Student.

Students often have to adjust to the changes of coming to college and being in a new place. These things include the different people, the new sights, and the new classes.

Those new experiences can be a struggle for all students, but what about the foreign students? A lot of Iola’s campus consists of either foreign students or students that have come from out of state. Did those students get more of a culture shock and what was their opinion of the small town of Iola?

Sophomore David Obiukwu experienced the small town culture shock.

“Iola shocked me because I didn’t know country places like this,” said Obiukwu. “There is very minimal industrialization, and it’s a very small town. I didn’t think America was like that”.

Obiukwu is from Nigeria and plays soccer for Allen County. Most foreign students come here by themselves and have to get around on their own. In Iola that is not too hard unless you have another mindset about college. Iola is different from other large colleges and can be a big adjustment for someone not used to small towns.

“I was expecting more parties because it is just a college thing, but it’s very boring,” said Obiukwu.

Some advice David would give to incoming foreign freshman is to just be yourself around others and don’t force friendships.