Moving to a new country to attend university comes with challenges like homesickness, adjusting to a new city, a new language, a new culture, a new academic system, and creating a new friend group.
For the over 2,000 international students at Temple, the Office of International Student Affairs (ISA), with its myriad programming to support international students, is complemented by other essential Temple resources, such as the Student Success Center, the Cherry Pantry, Tuttleman Counseling, Career Development activities and much more. Together, such resources help students overcome the challenges of adjusting.
“At Temple, with Peer2Peer and programming through International Student Affairs, the Graduate School, and the College of Education and Human Development, adjustment felt more like an enjoyment than a challenge, as I am exposed to different people and resources that support my success.”
– Hook Jia-Han Yang, (EDU ’25)
“Expect change and challenges,” said Barsha Subedi (FOX, ’27), a junior from Nepal who came to Temple University to study Economics. Subedi explained how remembering the reason she is here was crucial to helping her adjust to Temple and the U.S. For Subedi, the most difficult parts of adjusting were the culture shock, adjusting to a new language, food customs and the rhythm of campus life. Culture shock is common for many international students when they first come to the U.S.
For Mateo Perez Presmanes (CLA, ’27), a Global Studies and Political Science double major and double minor in French and LGBTQIA+ Studies from Santander, Spain, the biggest challenge was the language barrier, which reminded him of how he differed from his peers.
“Even though I already spoke English quite well prior to coming to the U.S., the language barrier was always there, making it difficult to make friends and connect with other Temple students. My accent constantly reminded me that I was a foreigner and made me feel like I did not belong here,” he said.
From Adjusting to Becoming Leaders
With the passing of time, both these students, Subedi and Presmanes, and all the other students mentioned in this article, are now well integrated into Temple life. In fact, these students are now leaders who are part of ISA’s International Student Advisory Board (ISAB).
ISA, the department that supports international students throughout their journey, created ISAB as a way for experienced, highly motivated students to develop their leadership skills while ensuring that international student services and programming incorporate the student voice.
One recent student leader, Hook Jia-Han Yang, from Taiwan, who recently earned his master’s in applied research and analysis, was a member of ISAB from February 2025 to December 2025. He found his work with ISAB so rewarding that he was even interested in continuing his work after graduation.
He explained, “My role, like most members, was to provide feedback and suggestions on international student experiences, ranging from International Student Affairs programming to broader university initiatives.” Yang said. During his tenure he served on Temple’s Basic Needs and Financial Support Committee.
As a current ISAB member, Presmanes explained that ISAB’s mission is to represent Temple’s international student body. Every semester, members of the board are placed in subcommittees that help with varying tasks, such as guiding social media for international students. Presmanes is currently on the subcommittee that is organizing ISA’s graduation events for international students.
Key to Adjusting: Peer2Peer
Another key program that International Student Affairs runs is Peer2Peer. This program helps international students adjust through activities like exploring Philadelphia as a group and learning about resources and activities at Temple such as Tuttleman Counseling, the Student Success Center, and the Wellness Resource Center. Peer2Peer is open to both undergraduate and graduate international students.
This program divides those interested into small groups, each with a more experienced student mentor who leads the group. All mentoring groups meet once a week, and mentors familiarize mentees with Temple resources and engage in activities like going for coffee together to help the group get to know each other.
“At Temple, with Peer2Peer and programming through International Student Affairs, the Graduate School, and the College of Education and Human Development, adjustment felt more like an enjoyment than a challenge, as I am exposed to different people and resources that support my success. These groups hold workshops and networking events, allowing me to get involved and build my cultural capital quickly,” Yang said.
Yang joined Peer2Peer to build relationships and meet friends, and the friendships he made are still ongoing today. A large part of Peer2Peer includes connecting with students with different backgrounds from different places around the world.
“(Peer2Peer) helped me develop the cultural awareness to communicate more thoughtfully with people from different backgrounds,” Yang said.
Other Programs: Student Success Center and Honors
For Presmanes, what has helped him be successful was seeking help to work on his language skills at Temple’s Student Success Center (SSC). The Student Success Center in Charles Library offers weekly language tables, one-on-one tutoring in writing, language, and STEM topics, as well as academic coaching, and workshops in skills like time management and organization.
“I utilized the Student Success Center for conversation practice in English. This helped me improve my speaking and helped me feel more confident when talking to others and participating in class,” said Presmanes.
Now, Presmanes is a language and writing tutor in the SSC, and he even trains new writing tutors.
“We host weekly language tables for English conversation in a group setting for English learners, which can be very helpful for international students seeking to perfect their English-speaking skills,” he said.
Presmanes explained that his Honors Peer Mentor program also helped him adjust.
Advice from Student Leaders
The students highlighted here agree that the support ISA and Temple offer has helped them not only adjust, but allowed them to become student leaders.
- Vidhi Channa (CST ‘27), India – “Be open to new people and possibilities and just try to give yourself some grace. You’ll eventually adjust and have an amazing time. Getting in the rhythm of things will not happen automatically, rather it is something that comes with simply getting adjusted to your new city, your new classes, and the people who surround you.”
- Hook Jia-Han Yang (EDU ’25), Taiwan – “You can likely be who you want to be, but you need a clear vision. By graduation, ask yourself where do I see myself, and what milestones can I reach first? The plan can change. Don’t expect to figure everything out immediately.”
- Mateo Perez Presmanes (CLA, ’27), Spain – “Utilize campus resources and communities, such as clubs, that make you feel supported. Temple’s incredibly diverse and inclusive community can help you feel seen.”
Presmanes summed it up, “Use college as a time of self-discovery and self-acceptance. Studying in the U.S. can offer opportunities to explore identities in ways that may not be possible in your home country.”
By Iona Clark (KLN ’26), Journalism Major
Photos courtesy of Mateo Perez Presmanes