Empowering Yourself While People Continue to Highlight Your Struggles (Copy)
Photo by Oladimeji Odunsi on Unsplash
One thing that’s been made abundantly clear to me during my years of helping individuals is that everyone struggles, but not everyone knows how to use these situations to empower themselves and make themselves stronger.
As an international student, you'll work through difficult times, and most of your American peers and professors won't understand the struggles you face.
At times, it may feel like they're highlighting your struggle or treating you as if you have deficiencies, just because they can’t see things beyond the surface.
What do you do if you find yourself in a situation like this? Are you going to accept what they think about you, or are you going to show them otherwise? If you aspire to build a great future for yourself, the decision here is clear.
When I was relatively new to the U.S. and going through training to become a doctoral-level psychologist, I had to stand up for myself in the middle of a meeting with a well-respected senior supervisor.
Their constant correction of my English during supervision was getting to the point where it disrupted my learning. I needed to let them know that first, I know I need to improve my English, but the fact is I will never become a native English speaker because I’m not one. And second, I can still bring a lot of value to the lives of my patients and clients because of my cultural background - can we just focus on that?
It was through repeated self-affirmations such as this one that I landed a top internship of my choosing in a competitive national match process, got my green card through self-petition, built a successful private practice in New York City, and got invited to speak at schools, organizations, and events.
Learn to be the greatest advocate for yourself. No one will be able to do it for you, especially when you are visibly different from most people around you.
As an international student, you face challenges that most of your American peers and professors will never have to work through. That provides you with valuable opportunities to grow and expand yourself that others don’t have.
Empower yourself by working consistently to improve your areas of growth while at the same time learning to see and focus on your strengths. By doing this, others around you will place more value on the unique experience you bring to the table.
Have you ever spoken up about your experiences with your American peers and professors?
What are your strengths?
What are some ways you can advocate for yourself going forward by embracing your strengths?
About The Author
Fifteen years ago I came to the U.S. from Taiwan and studied in a field that rarely accepted “fresh off the boat” international students from non-English speaking countries. I’m Dr. Vivi Hua, Psy.D. and I help international students navigate the cross-cultural aspects of their experience in the U.S., so they can succeed academically and socially and build a life and career that they desire!