By: Ava Clements, Lion’s Eye Staff Writer, aac6165@psu.edu  

Penn State Brandywine’s diverse community highlights students who provide a global perspective to their college experience. The growing presence of international students across the campus cultivates an inspiring and inviting sensation. Senior, Roberta Gonzalez, shares her challenges and triumphs as an international student.   

Roberta Gonzalez is a fourth-year corporate communications major, planning to graduate in the Spring. Gonzalez is originally from Tampico, Mexico, located in the north near the Gulf of Mexico.  

“I grew up in a beach town, which was very fun, and then I moved to Mexico City where I got a feel for the city life; it was a perfect mix of both,” said Gonzalez.  

Gonzalez came to the U.S. three years ago to attend college at Penn State Brandywine. She was previously enrolled in a university in Mexico City before making the decision to transfer.  

“I came to visit my aunt and while I was here, I decided I wanted to move here to finish college,” said Gonzalez.  

Adjusting to a new life in a different country is far from easy. The experience for Gonzalez has opened many doors and opportunities in terms of her academic and social life. From getting involved with clubs on campus to internship opportunities off campus, Gonzalez has made the most of her time here so far.   

“Joining the Latinx Club and meeting others from Latin America who are proud to represent and teach others about our country has been a very memorable experience,” said Gonzalez.  

While the story of international students coming to the U.S. to study may not seem unique, Gonzalez brings up the difficulties she faced during her adjustment.  

“Although I lived in Mexico City, which is a very rainy and cold beach town, here the snow and early sunsets were super hard to adjust to,” said Gonzalez. “Once you get used to the cold winters, it gets easier.” 

Not only was the change of weather a tough adaptation, but also acquiring a complete understanding of the grammar in the English language posed a few challenges.  

“When you write in Spanish the punctuation is very different than it is here, and that came as a big shock academically,” said Gonzalez. 

Luckily for Gonzalez she already had a foundation of the English language before her move. 

“I always went to bilingual schools, and we were provided with reading books and grammar publications, very similar to the United States,” said Gonzalez.  

Fortunately for Gonzalez, and the other international students at Penn State Brandywine, the Multilingual and International Students Program is a great resource for sorting out the challenges. Debora Ousey, the program coordinator, explains how the program is useful for every student on campus.  

“We are here to celebrate and educate because we are so much more similar than we are different and we encourage students to feel comfortable sharing their cultures,” said Ousey.  

The program truly embraces diversity and motivates students to teach and explore their own backgrounds as well as those of their peers.  

“We get a broad mix of students at our events especially at the global dialogues; students from all different backgrounds are sharing what school, dating, and friendships are like in other countries,” said Ousey. “The events are truly eye opening for anyone who attends.” 

Penn State Brandywine, with its diverse community of international and multilingual students, offers many opportunities for students to engage and learn about a range of cultures. Gonzalez’s story highlights the true beauty that comes from taking that leap to embark on a new journey.  

Visit the Multilingual and International Student Program website to learn more.