A World Away from Home: The Life of International Students

by Saloni Chauhan

Pratha Mathur, an international student, believes that the phrase “success does not come without struggle” is ideal for international students.  

“Every time you migrate to a different country and leave behind your family, you have to start over from scratch,” said Mathur.  

Mathur is a student at St. Clair College International Business Management, she moved to Windsor from India three months ago.  

“We are all blessed with plenty of facilities back home in India, but here, you have to take care of everything on your own, including your financial problems,” said Mathur.  

There were so many different problems she had to face in the starting phase at the beginning of her semester.  

“I didn’t have a job for the first two months of my career,” said Mathur. “With God’s help, I now have a good job and income instead of depending just on my G.I.C., which my parents were responsible for sending me.”  

International students at St. Clair College have access to free medical services, according to Elyse Maindonald, a nurse practitioner working in the college’s medical department. 

“We provide insurance cards to international students and we don’t charge them for any services because of it,” said Maindonald.  

According to Maindonald if students require health education and assistance, the college also directs them to an expert, who also teaches students about nutrition so they may have healthy lives.  

“In their home country, their mothers may prepare meals for them, but because she is not around, students may not eat properly and become ill since the cuisine in Canada is different from what they are used to,” said Maindonald.  

During her first year of college, Mathur also admitted that she had mental health issues.  

“Coming from a loving family, there is always this thought that during festivals and special moments, you are alone,” said Mathur. “Although we have friends our family is our priority and we always miss them.”  

International students can also get free mental counselling from St. Clair College.  

“We feel here in the health centre that we have an obligation to treat those students very well,” said Maindoland. 

“The first stage is always difficult but the help of the college and your inner strength always keep you motivated to study hard for yourself, and for doing best in your life,” said Mathur.