Things I Wish I Knew as a First-Year International Student

Starting university as an international student is exciting, overwhelming, and honestly… a little chaotic. Everyone talks about how amazing it is, and it really is, but there are so many small, unspoken lessons you only learn by living through it. 

Here are a few things I wish I knew before I started:

1. You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out

I came in thinking everyone else knew exactly what they were doing. They didn’t. Some people are just better at looking like they have everything under control. The truth is, most first-year students are just trying to keep up—academically, socially, emotionally. It’s okay to feel lost at the beginning. It’s okay to change your mind, to struggle, and to take time to adjust. You’re not behind. You’re just starting.

2. Making Friends Takes Time (and Effort)

I thought friendships would just… happen. And sometimes they do—but most of the time, they don’t fall into place instantly. It takes effort. It takes putting yourself out there, starting conversations, and sometimes dealing with awkward moments. You might not find “your people” in the first week. Or even the first month. But slowly, through classes, group projects, random conversations, and shared experiences, connections start to form. And the friendships you build this way? They tend to last. 

3. It’s Okay to Feel Homesick

No one really prepares you for how random homesickness can be. It’s not always dramatic. Sometimes it hits you in small moments—when you hear a song from home, eat something that doesn’t taste quite right, or just have a long day and wish you were somewhere familiar. And that doesn’t mean you made the wrong decision. It just means you’re human. Give yourself space to feel it, but don’t let it stop you from building a life where you are.

4. Independence Is Hard Before It Feels Empowering

Living alone, managing your time, handling responsibilities—it all sounds exciting until you’re actually doing it. There are days when everything feels too much — for example when you miss the comfort of having things taken care of for you. But over time, something shifts. You start figuring things out. You become more capable. More confident. More independent. And one day, you realize you’ve built a life for yourself—and that feeling is unmatched.

5. Not Every Day Will Be Productive (and That’s Fine)

There’s a lot of pressure to make the most of every moment—especially when you’re studying abroad. But the truth is, you’re not going to have perfect, productive days all the time. Some days you’ll feel unmotivated. Some days you’ll just want to rest. And that’s okay. Balance matters more than perfection.

6. Say Yes More Often

This is something I wish I did more in the beginning. Say yes to events. To new experiences. To meeting people. To trying things that feel a little outside your comfort zone. You don’t have to do everything—but the more open you are, the more this experience gives back to you. Some of your best memories will come from the things you almost didn’t go to.

7. You’re Growing, Even When It Doesn’t Feel Like It

Growth isn’t always obvious. It’s not just big achievements or milestones. Sometimes it’s in the small things—handling a difficult week, navigating a new environment, or simply showing up when things feel hard. Even on days when you feel like you’re not doing enough, you’re still moving forward.

To Future First-Year Students

If you’re about to start this journey, you don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to have everything planned out. Just be open—to change, challenges and growth. Because being an international student isn’t just about studying in a new place. It’s about becoming a version of yourself you haven’t met yet. And trust me—that version of you is stronger than you think.