In August 2021, I embarked on a life-changing journey, traveling seven hours from Lima, Peru, to Philadelphia. I left behind my family, my sister, and the life I had always known to pursue my dreams at Temple University.
Temple welcomed me with open arms and gave me a new purpose. I discovered the international student community, and since then, I have dedicated myself to empowering, creating opportunities for, and increasing visibility for international students.
International students are strong, resilient, and an essential part of Temple’s community and Philadelphia. With over 2,000 international students on campus, we bring diverse perspectives and enrich the university in countless ways. Connecting to a classic Temple motto, international students represent perseverance that conquers. We leave behind our old lives and start anew, working hard to adapt and thrive.
Through my involvement with the Office of Global Engagement, I have met over one hundred international students, each with a story of resilience. From my first volunteer event for international students in 2021, I knew I wanted to dedicate my time at Temple to bettering the international student community.
I have been a mentor, intern, student worker, volunteer, and leader for the Office of Global Engagement, not for recognition, but because of my deep passion for Temple’s international student community and its many students who deserve to be recognized and appreciated.
The journey of my advocacy for international students at Temple has been about growth and commitment to something greater than myself. Looking back, I barely recognize the 17-year-old, first-year student who first set foot on campus. Today, as a 21-year-old senior preparing to graduate, I realize how much I have evolved and the impact I have had on my community and on other students.
“The experiences I’ve had at Temple have not only shaped me but have also allowed me to uplift others, creating a lasting impact that extends far beyond my own experience and graduation.”
– Flavia Astete Garcia (KLN ’25)
I started as a volunteer, then became a Peer2Peer mentor, guiding new international and exchange students through their adjustment to life at Temple. I led airport pickups, continued as a social media intern for the Office of Global Engagement, creating content while raising awareness of our community at Temple and Philadelphia. I contributed to monthly events like Temple International Coffee Hours, fostering a sense of belonging for international students and promoting cultural diversity. These experiences allowed me to develop leadership skills and make a meaningful impact on international students. But the true reward was seeing the smiles of the students at our events and knowing that I made a difference. Their “thank you” meant the world to me.
Beyond campus, I took my advocacy further. I participated in online panel discussions and Temple information webinars, sharing my story with prospective international students from over twenty countries. I contributed to articles in Temple News, highlighting issues affecting international students and advocating for greater representation.
A defining moment in my journey was leading and organizing an International Student Coffee Hour about my home country in collaboration with Global Engagement, CLA, and Latinx student organizations to celebrate Peru, Hispanic Heritage Month, and cultural diversity. With over 165 attendees, the event was the “cherry on top” of my experience at Temple. It was an event where students could celebrate Peru and Hispanic culture, and all of us could come together. In the Peruvian Coffee Hour. International students from a variety of countries and domestic students were all one.
Temple’s global owls are a vital part of what makes this university vibrant and unique. Our community, representing over 120 countries, brings perspectives that enrich the campus and the City of Philadelphia. As I prepare to graduate and embark on a new journey, I carry the international student community in my heart.
The experiences I’ve had at Temple have not only shaped me but have also allowed me to uplift others, creating a lasting impact that extends far beyond my own experience and graduation.
By Flavia Astete Garcia, (double major Advertising and Account Management, KLN ‘ 25)
Photos provided by Flavia Astete Garcia