Maraly Ledezma and Dr. Samuel Otterstrom, Geography Department
The project was extremely successful. It is a living witness that when are anxiously engaged in a good cause, and pray in faith, God puts forth his hand.
BYU international-students’ situation cry for attention from the BYU Administration. Luckily, the BYU Administration has the stated mission to satisfy these. Consequently, my study provides a link between these needs and missions. It provides understanding. As an international student, I was able to spot what these problems were, and by intense research find how BYU can make gigantic improvements in the academic, social, financial and personal lives of the students, thus better fulfilling the University’s mission without dramatic expenses, or creating of new departments.
History
I started my research, two years ago. I simply looked for something of interest, and for a way to help. Just this year, interestingly, a subcommittee from the BYU Faculty Advisory Counsel decided to focus their studies and suggestions for the school year 2002-2003 on how to help international students adapt in their freshman year. The development of my studies was thus welcomed with eagerness by the intended audience: a sector of BYU Administration. Dr. Eric Jellen was randomly assigned as my honors thesis chair, who turned out to be the chair for this year of the mentioned FAC subcommittee. My study provides a perspective on the situation of students, the resources of BYU, and includes suggestions on how BYU can help students not only in their freshman year, but also before they arrive, and after.
The Study
The thesis was that BYU international students stand at a dangerous disadvantage in relation to their national counterparts, but not only that, more importantly, many of them were being deeply and negatively affected in their personal lives. The results confirm it. Thankfully, the study also shows that BYU has the resources to satisfy these needs if it will just pay head, communicate, and act. The thesis also includes a video about Culture Shock, which can be used to help international students adapt.
The suggestions I make are specific and founded on a statistical analysis and a field study. The study includes specifics on how BYU’s existing resources can help the academic, social, personal and financial spheres of their lives.
Contributors
I am extremely thankful for the hand of God. He is touching the hearts of so many people who so willingly contributed to the development of a project to help the needy international students. I was pleased with the eager and pleasing support of students, faculty, departments, and staff. Some of these include the Honors Program, ORCA Thesis funding, faculty and staff from the departments of Geography, Statistics, Theater and Media Art, Kennedy Center for International Studies English, Linguistics, and the Cougar Eat Management, Sugar and Spice, International Office, Alumni Association, among so many others. Specially, for the voluntary contribution of over 250 students who helped both in the development of the statistical study and the video, as well as the respondents.
Experience
The experience, connections, training, and knowledge, I gained from this study are invaluable. I would do it again all over. This experience enriched my BYU education dramatically, and the skills and knowledge I gained will, I am sure, contribute to my future development. Thanks BYU for this chance.
Invitation
Nevertheless, a real improvement in the situation of international students still requires an efficient, coordinated effort with increased attention, and action from BYU Administration. The current distribution of responsibilities and resources allocated for international students have proved to be inefficient. Please refer to my honors thesis for details (you can find a copy by contacting the Honors Program, or the BYU Harold B. Lee Library); or contact Dr. Samuel Otterstrom from the Geography Department, or Dr. Eric Jellen. Otherwise, contact me after I return from my mission in August 2004.
In invite wholeheartedly BYU Administration to pay heed to the cry of international students at the university.