The double-edge of the f-1 visa ⋆ college magazine

Imagine yourself in one of the following situations: you are on a quest to find employment, but 90% of workplaces close their doors to you. You can study and enjoy your academic life, but

the tuition and textbook costs are approximately THREE TIMES GREATER THAN THAT OF A CITIZEN. In other words, you feel comfortable with your life, but uncomfortable at the same time. Sounds

odd right? WELL, WELCOME TO THE LIFE OF AN INTERNATIONAL F-1 STUDENT. Let me take you to July 30, 2016, the day I arrived in the United States from my native country of Peru, with a luggage

full of clothes, personal belongings and dreams. I cannot recall a day where I felt so optimistic, SO HUNGRY TO ACCOMPLISH MY OBJECTIVES, and so happy that a six-month sabbatical period

finally gave its fruits. My path to success started at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland. There, I met wonderful people whom I still speak with now. Most importantly, MC showed me

the challenges I would face while studying in the US. Without a doubt, my journey in college was a roller-coaster: I FELT OPTIMISTIC AND DISORIENTED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS. But all the

effort I put into school was worth the big prize, the opportunity my family and I strived for: The University of Maryland. What surprised me the most was the fact that international

students comprise 23% of the student body at UMD. That felt like a small percentage for the 40 thousand students admitted yearly. Enrolling in the Maryland schooling system FELT LIKE AN

ACCOMPLISHMENT TO ME. I was also amazed at the number of students in the hallways, lecture rooms, dining halls, and other facilities. The campus size was enormous, and I became more excited

than ever when I attended my first class. In some classes, I WAS THE ONLY NON-AMERICAN STUDENT among Marylanders, Virginians, Southerners, and other out-of-state undergraduates. For some

reason, I loved when my professors and classmates asked me questions such as “where are you from?” and “how do you like it here?” Even nowadays, I still hear these questions. THE

COLLEGE-UNIVERSITY TRANSITION PRESENTS A CHALLENGING TIME. Through my experiences, I confirm this cliché. Now, I start to see things from a different perspective. I realize the sacrifice my

family made, spending so much money for me to get to UMD. I FEEL PRESSURED TO FIND EMPLOYMENT to make a living and help them cover a portion of the costs. I was horrified when I looked at

the tuition costs and what that implied. I am still disturbed when I receive University bills, reminding me how much I need to pay. Yes, the cost proves totally worth it, for I HAVE WORKED

SO HARD to be where I am right now. However, it feels frustrating knowing you cannot do something to prevent money vaporizing in front of you. I am upset when I go to the University Career

Fairs and fail to find a job while looking at employers’ perplexed faces when telling them about my status. I feel frustrated doing WEEKS AND WEEKS OF PAPERWORK just for employment. I FEEL

TIRED COMING HOME FROM CAMPUS EVERY WEEK AND TALKING WITH MY FAMILY ABOUT JUST ONE THING AT DINNER: MONEY. It is so infuriating to be eligible for dozens of scholarships and get a pile of

recognitions, but more than half of those scholarships are closed for me. It feels so irritating to have THE THOUGHT OF A “PLAN B” swimming in my head every day if everything I accomplish

fails. For example, what would happen if I cannot cover University costs? Or what do I do if I do not find employment? However, thanks to the F-1 visa IT WAS POSSIBLE TO FOLLOW MY DREAM of

studying in the United States. Thanks to the F-1 visa, I met wonderful people, became the student I am now and discovered skills I did not know I possessed before, such as the ability to

learn other languages. So, overall, I feel a love-hate relationship towards my current student status. I feel like having an F-1 visa is like being a doorkeeper: IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN KEYS,

ONLY CERTAIN DOORS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU.