Columnist Elo Esalomi reflects on her final days living in the United Kingdom prior to moving to Philadelphia as an international student at Penn.
Credit: Chase SuttonAs I prepare to step onto a campus I have never seen in person, I am filled with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Sometimes I wonder why I chose Penn — a university 3,500 miles away from my family, friends, and the life I have cultivated over the last 18 years. As a British international student, this summer marks a significant transition in my life: a summer of change.
I thought I was used to change; my family and I have moved from Lagos, Nigeria, to London, then to a quaint village in Southeast England, leaving schools and friends behind each time. But this move feels different — perhaps because it’s my first time without my family’s protective presence.
When deciding between Penn and a British university just one hour away from my house, I thought the choice seemed straightforward. Penn offered a world-class education, a vibrant campus life, and the opportunity to experience a new culture. Yet now that the reality of my decision is sinking in, I sometimes find myself questioning my choice. Why am I leaving the comfort and familiarity of home for a place so distant and unknown?
These thoughts came to me more and more in my final days of high school. I remember one particularly sunny afternoon, right after our exams, when my friends and I gathered at our favorite local café. We laughed and shared jokes between spoons of ice cream and cookie dough. I felt so grateful for my supportive friends, whom I had known for the majority of my teenage years. However, it suddenly hit me that this might be one of the last times we could do this together. While my friends will only be a train ride away from each other, remaining an active part of each other’s lives, I’ll be on the other side of the world, merely cheering them on from the sidelines. From now on, our café debriefs will have to be held over FaceTime.
Of course, there are even more inevitable challenges facing international students like me, from the mundane differences like spellings (sorry, but it’s “colour,” not “color”), to the more significant hurdles such as jobs, cultural differences, and visas. In particular, the bureaucratic maze of securing a student visa is often the first taste of these problems for us. The paperwork, the interviews, the waiting — it all seems like an unrelenting reminder of things to come. But each step is bringing us closer to this new chapter in our lives.
However, this adventure is also a reminder of the familial support I am leaving behind. I have resigned myself to the fact that my parents won’t be at Family Weekend; I’ll miss out on my sisters’ birthdays and everyday moments with loved ones. These are the sacrifices that come with studying abroad. The support system that I have relied on my entire life will no longer be just a bedroom or a short drive away; they are five hours ahead.
Despite these fears, I am still incredibly excited to step onto campus. I know I will meet amazing people from all over the world, each with unique interests and backgrounds, yet all sharing similar feelings of missing family and home, whether they are international or domestic students. I look forward to exploring the diverse range of clubs and organizations at Penn, participating in campus events, and, of course, going to lectures and recitations.
Ultimately, my decision to study abroad is driven by a desire for growth and new experiences. The challenges I face will undoubtedly shape me in ways that staying close to home could not. Studying abroad is worth it because it broadens my academic and cultural horizons and deepens my appreciation for the support system that has guided me here.
So in these final days, what should I — and hundreds of other incoming international students — focus on?
Spend quality time with loved ones. Don’t hesitate to reach out to primary school friends that you haven’t spoken with in a while. Go on a walk. Watch the sunset in a park you visit often. Appreciate the little things. I am looking forward to seeing extended family and friends from every corner of England — Bath, Bristol, London, and Manchester — perhaps for the final time this year.
Hug your loved ones tight; they’ve helped you reach this point, and their support will remain steadfast, no matter the distance.
ELO ESALOMI is an incoming Engineering first year studying computer science from London. Her email is eloe@seas.upenn.edu.
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