“It helps to have a community before you arrive” UCC Ambassador Megan on how international students can integrate themselves into life abroad
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Megan studied for part of her undergraduate degree in Limerick and is currently undertaking a second degree at University College Cork. She’s doing an excellent job of sparking conversations between students as an ambassador on the CampusConnect app and enjoys connecting with students openly and informally. We spoke to her about her course, part time jobs in Ireland and how to relate to students well as an ambassador.
Name: Megan
From: Chicago, Illinois
University: University College Cork
Course: BA Anthropology
Fun fact: Although she’s an English speaker, Megan is still adapting to some of the slang terms used in Ireland!
Anthropology: what’s it all about?
“I study Anthropology, which I sort of stumbled upon but couldn’t be happier to have found it. I always knew I wanted to help people, but nursing was out of the question as I can’t stand blood or needles. Anthropology is the study of human culture, investigating how we interact and develop, which gives such an insight on how we work and process situations. I love how I could apply this degree to multiple professions, whether that’s corporate, HR or third sector. I’ve never wanted to do one job for life, so keeping my options open is a big relief.
It’s always been my goal to see more of the world, and I thought doing this through studying was the best option for me as it provides you with a built-in community. There are cultural overlaps between Ireland and the US, but it’s different enough to feel like an escape. Having said that, there’s a real beauty in being an outsider sometimes. You’re immersed in a new culture and have a heightened awareness of the customs and quirks. As an anthropology student, it’s like fieldwork for me!”
Feeling part of the community through a part-time job…
“It was quite tough to find a part-time job at the time due to the pandemic. Also, Cork is a densely populated city, so jobs can seem scarce, but if you know where to look there’s a wealth of options. I’d recommend browsing social media sites as most modern business will use these to advertise positions now too. I currently work in a pub, which I secured through talking to a friend who got me an interview, so make the most of your networks too!
Working in hospitality really helps me to get to know the people, the culture and the local community. You start to recognise faces and feel more comfortable because it’s another community to be a part of. In addition to learning about the drinking culture, I picked up on different customs and slang phrases. I’d absolutely recommend getting a part-time job. Even if you don’t need it financially, it helps you socially in that you get to know your surroundings and feel like you have a purpose in the community.”
Connecting with students in an ambassador role…
“I’ve been in a lot of mentorship and ambassador roles. After a while, you stop seeing it as a job and focus more on putting yourself in their shoes. With CampusConnect, you’re just another student getting to know students, but you happen to have more knowledge of what’s to come for them. I think of it as sharing wealth rather than being an authority figure, and I like to be quite informal in a professional way. This makes you seem much more open and friendly.
The CampusConnect app is really beneficial, I think students can get a lot out of it. The anxiety of going abroad and living hundreds of miles away from home is scary, no matter how independent you are, so I think it relieves some of that stress or fear. It helps to have a community before you arrive as even just getting to know people’s names and faces gives you a sense of control going in. It’s not like you have to be friends for life either – you can ebb and flow naturally once you arrive!”
After reflecting upon her experience so far as an international student, Megan had a message of reassurance for those about to begin their journeys: “I think it’s important as a student abroad to keep an open mind, even when things seem hard. Even if it’s scary, you get what you give in a situation like this, and opening those doors is what leads to success. I promise there’ll always be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!”
Want to follow Megan’s journey? Find her on LinkedIn
