WHAT IT’S REALLY LIKE STUDYING IN THE U.S. AS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
In an interview with 168 Hours, Manishak Baghdasaryan from Armenia and Clara Roque from Mexico talked about their academic journey at the University of California, San Diego, and shared their thoughts on education and student life abroad.
Manishak explained why she chose to study political science at UCSD: “I wanted to understand how we can broaden the political field in Armenia and help develop it further. There is political instability in both of our countries, Armenia and Mexico, and we talk about it a lot. I tell Clara about the problems in Armenia, she tells me about the problems in Mexico. It’s interesting to see how different they are, but how instability affects both in similar ways.”
Clara said that Manishak’s stories about Armenia inspired her to visit: “The way Manishak spoke so highly about Armenia really intrigued me. I had also done some research, and I thought — I need to explore this country.”
For Manishak, one of the greatest advantages of studying abroad is being able to share her culture: “You’re able to represent your culture in its best form and raise awareness about it.”
When it comes to challenges, Manishak mentioned the difficulty of adapting as an international student: “The rigor is pretty hard. For me, moving to the U.S. alone without my parents was very difficult. Looking back now, I realize the impact was bigger than I thought at the time. But when you’re alone, you also learn a lot about yourself.”
Clara added that the hardest part for her was balance: “It’s tough to manage schoolwork, social life, and making new connections all at once. You want to meet people and experience everything, but there’s so much on your plate.”
They also reflected on the differences between youth in the U.S. and back home. Manishak noted: “Our problems and their problems are completely different. We experienced a war in Armenia in 2020 — that was the biggest event in my life. What Americans call problems are often lifestyle-related. Also, Armenians are very patriotic because of our small population.”
Clara agreed, adding: “In my impression, Americans often think their problems are the end of the world, without realizing what’s really happening elsewhere.”
By Razmik Martirosyan
