The 17th of November is set as the International Students’ Day by the International Students’ Council (ISC) in London, England in 1971. At the time, the commemoration was made as a form of the European students’ resistance and solidarity in World War II, in which they faced challenges in education because of the instability of the world’s political and social conditions. This commemoration then turned global and grew even bigger as an important moment to increase awareness on the importance of education for everyone. The International Students’ Day also became the right moment to celebrate students in various fields for their dedication in their pursuit of knowledge and realization of their potential.
To commemorate International Students’ Day, Diva Nauli Maharini, a class of 2022 Communication Science student, shared her study experiences abroad. Diva joined the IISMA Co-funding program in Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea, for Media and Communication. After experiencing the study environment there, she feels happy but also challenged. The challenge came from the various teaching methods of each lecturer and the constant use of English, especially because of the different accents and culture. But those challenges actually became the push Diva needed to grow. The lecturers also encouraged discussions in class and they also asked for feedback regarding test results. Also, the facilities in Hanyang University are very complete, there’s even a study room that’s open for 24 hours during exam week.
The most memorable lesson for Diva after experiencing studying abroad is to believe in herself. She realized that she doesn’t need to be scared of trying out new things because every problem has a solution. So, for International Students’ Day, she hopes that the students who want to study abroad can and be confident to achieve their dreams. Through that, she hopes that they can improve themselves, reach their best potential, and contribute to Indonesia. Happy International Students’ Day! (Ed)