Hi my virtual friends! As you all know I'm currently studying at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) in Reno Nevada; and I’ve been sharing my experience as an international student. For this third blog, I'd like to share what my first semester as an international student was like. I'm not going to lie to you guys—I was so excited to start my first semester as a full-time student, but I quickly realized that it's not all sunshine and roses.

Let’s start with MATH 124 (College Algebra); even though I hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting from my country, I was never a huge fan of math! I don’t know why, but I was always running away from this subject haha. But I like challenges, and to be honest, I didn’t even have the choice. For your prerequisites you must take it! 

I remember my first day in class, looking at the teacher and thinking to myself: I don’t know those words! Let’s be honest, most ESL classes don’t focus on math words, or even other subjects. That’s something that you learn as you go! I was so frustrated taking notes and trying to understand at the same time. I got home telling my husband that I was going to fail the class (sorry for the drama 😆). After crying (I mean, not literally), I looked for resources that helped me to understand better, and it wasn’t because of the teacher—my problem was the language barrier, so I started looking for those words in my language. 

As the weeks went on, I realized I was understanding almost everything! And for those specific topics, I went to my professor’s office hours and even the TMCC Tutoring Center. That was so helpful, and before I knew it, I was finishing my semester and guess what! I got an A in my class!! 🥳 Yes, all that crying from the beginning wasn’t even worth it! So, my advice is USE THE STUDENT RESOURCES YOUR SCHOOL HAS!

Now, I want to talk about DATA 101 (Introduction to Data Science), my favorite subject! 

As I mentioned in previous blogs, I’m pursuing an Associate of Science, and I’m focusing on Data Science. I’ve always been very curious and analytical, which is why I chose this degree. And this class definitely didn’t disappoint me. I learned how to ask meaningful questions, work with real datasets, clean and explore data. We also used the language program “R” to analyze information. At the end of the semester, I was so amazed by everything I could do in this program and how I could understand all the info in those datasets. I also worked on an individual final project titled “What Makes the Happiest Countries in 2023 Happier?” and the findings were very surprising to me (I’m probably sounding a little nerdy haha—I told you, this is my favorite subject!).

Another thing I like about this class is having the opportunity to present my project in front of the class. I’m not going to lie; I was a little nervous about presenting, but the teacher and classmates were very patient and kind. That really helped me with my communication skills.

Another class I enjoyed was PSY 101 (General Psychology), which was part of my social sciences courses. If you are not pursuing an Associate of Arts but still want to learn about the human mind, this class might be perfect for you! I also had a final presentation project, and it was also very meaningful for my academic development. 

Last but not least, EPY 100 (Transition into College) class was the perfect bridge for my transition into the U.S. education system. This class helped me so much to understand how the education system works here, adjust to the culture, and learn about the student resources that TMCC offers for all its students. I loved coming to this class because I met many international friends. We shared our experiences and cultures; thank you Professor Skyler!  for creating a welcoming environment where we felt supported.

Starting a new journey as an international student can feel exciting, but also overwhelming. I still remember how many questions, fears, and uncertainties I had when I first started this journey. Everything felt new — the language, the education system, the culture, and even simple daily situations. So, be patient with yourself. Learning and adapting takes time. But one day, you will look back and feel proud of everything you overcame to be here. See you in the next one!✨

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Amairani is an international student from Monterrey, Mexico, pursuing an Associate of Science degree at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada.