Hello, future international student! My name is Amairani, and I am from Monterrey, Mexico, a big city in the north of the country, known as “La Ciudad de las Montañas” (“The City of the Mountains”) because no matter where you are in the city, you can almost always see mountains in the background.

This is my second semester at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) and my first one as an international student. You may be wondering how I was already studying here before officially becoming an international student. Well, that takes us back to 2023: I got married, and in 2024— to support my husband’s goal—I ended up quitting the accounting job I had for almost five years and leaving everything behind in Mexico. I moved to Michigan, and lived there for a year and three months. Then, in 2025, my husband’s work contract ended, and now, once again, a new beginning: this time, in Reno, Nevada—yeah baby! 

And this is where my story with TMCC begins.

While searching online, looking for schools in the area, I found TMCC. It was actually very easy to find information because everything was clearly available on the website. I was under a TD Visa (a spouse visa)  and had some questions about whether I had to change my status. I remember sending an email, wondering what the best path for me would be, since I wasn’t sure if I would only take English classes or pursue something else.

Even though my visa allowed me to study, it also came with some restrictions. So, I contacted the TMCC International Student Services department, and they were incredibly kind and patient while answering all my questions. Eventually, I decided to start taking some classes in Fall 2025—but not yet as an international student.

I started with English 113 and 114, which are great classes for international and multilingual students. Besides the amazing support I received from the TMCC ISS department, another big reason I decided to continue studying there was my English teacher, Angela. She made every class feel engaging and interesting all the time. Honestly, she is one of those teachers who make you want to keep learning. One day in class, an international student asked about scholarships. I didn’t even know international students could apply for scholarships! That immediately caught my attention, so I decided to go back to the TMCC ISS and ask more questions about the F-1 visa. I’d say that another thing that also really encouraged me was the opportunity to work on campus. 

So, I applied for a F1 visa and a not-so-spoiler spoiler, haha… I’m now officially an international student, pursuing an Associate of Science degree!!

Being an international student has been both an amazing and challenging journey. It has helped me grow, step out of my comfort zone, and connect with people from different cultures. This journey hasn’t been easy, but it has been incredibly rewarding. 

Can you imagine yourself one day saying, “Oh yeah, I got my degree in the U.S.”? Because honestly, even thinking about that still excites me. So, if you are currently thinking about taking this path, I just want to tell you something: it’s possible. You just have to take the first step. 

See you in my next post! ✨