Balance and Diversity: How to Apply Yourself Outside the Classroom

How I learned to feel at home 

American Universities have literally hundreds of student organizations, and Vanderbilt is a prime example of that.  

I’ve loved singing since I was a kid, so joining Vanderbilt Variations A Cappella felt like a natural fit; blending something familiar with something new helped me integrate quickly and connect with people. As an international student especially, the group’s mix of backgrounds and musical styles made it easy to feel at home. 

Another place where I quickly made friends and got to know American culture was my freshman dorm, Murray House. At Vandy, we take a lot of pride in our freshman houses, be it by cooking together in the shared kitchen, or studying and hanging out in the common areas, to name but a few. We also have a competition called “The Commons Cup”, where each house competes for the best house title by participating in all sort of athletic and cultural events throughout the year! Freshman year was such a blast, and I still enjoy saying hi to my floormates whenever I see them around campus. 

I also lived in a double room with a roommate I had only briefly talked to beforehand online.  However, we hit it off quickly, and she became my first friend on campus.  As fellow international students, I was excited to explore American culture with her, and I even visited her in her home country Georgia freshman spring. I had decided to make the most out of my college experience, and this was only the beginning of my travels across the world.

Coming out of your shell  

However, by being in Variations, by having my awesome roommate, and by just putting myself out there, I was able to thrive. Throughout college, I’ve made so many amazing and interesting friends, and have been able to travel to New York, Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco, Bulgaria, Korea, and me and my friends have many more adventures planned for the rest of senior year. Having the opportunity to stay at my friends’, which reduces travel costs significantly, and having a local tell me which experiences are worth the cost, has made my travels possible financially as well.

Another crucial way in which I have put myself out there is by being a research assistant in a psychology and child development research lab, called the Computational Cognitive Developmental Lab. 

My lab manager and principal investigator are such smart and generous people and being in the lab has without doubt been one of the most enriching experiences and places of growth for me during college. In fact, I may become a published author next year, so keep an eye out for that!

Living in Nashville 

From the get-go, I felt right at home in Nashville, or the “Music City”; Broadway is just 15 minutes away from campus, and there’s culture and music to be found everywhere, whether it’s in the form of bars, restaurants, or museums.  

Did you know that Nashville is one of the top places to have your bachelorette party? People come here from all over to experience the quaint neighborhoods, but also to experience life in the big city.  

For me, Nashville has been the perfect mix of urban and suburban.

Afterthoughts 

I’ve come to love living in Nashville and studying at Vanderbilt, and I know I’ll miss the strong sense of community most of all upon graduation next spring.  

Here, students come together to create real change, whether through campus events, peer support, or student-led organizations.   

Unfortunately, with the shifts happening in U.S. politics, many international students are uncertain whether to apply. However, Vanderbilt’s welcoming international community, which includes both students and faculty, has been a constant source of support for me. 

Ever since day one, I’ve felt that Vanderbilt had my back, and I trust that feeling will stay with me long after I leave.