Make Yourself at Home A Letter to International Students By Prayag Shethia (International Affairs Officer) Okay, so introductions and icebreakers have never been my thing. But I guess here we are: Kia Ora, Namaste, I am Prayag Shethia, a second year student studying a Bachelor of Engineering majoring in Mechatronics . I’m an international student from Mumbai, India. I landed in Aotearoa two years ago with an intense ambition to learn, grow and build connections. As an international
student we are often met by challenges that aren’t acknowledged by our academic institutions. Because of this, when we encounter new obstacles we often feel isolated and belittled. I got into the role of International Affairs Officer earlier this year to voice our concerns and support international students. 2020 has not been a very fulfilling year for most of us. The world has come to a freezing halt, and none of us are quite sure how to navigate this uncertainty. But for us international students so much seems to be on the line. While we did sign up for new experiences and challenges, none of us anticipated that it would come in the form of a global pandemic. We all feel very individual during this time, and being away from home only makes things more difficult. Work is being done behind the scenes, however there is always more to be done. There is strength
in numbers, so if you have an experience you would like to share do reach out. In this article I have curated my opinions and a brief summary on some of the events that have occurred which directly address and impact international students.
Representation in NZUSA’s National Action Plan A few weeks ago AUTSA declined to be one the signatories for NZUSA’s (New Zealand Union of Students' Associations) ‘National Student Action Plan’ to help counter and action the plan to help soften the effects of COVID-19 on students across New Zealand. NZUSA has been and is still doing a massive job for the students in NZ and I greatly acknowledge their work. However, the main reason for not signing was that the the plan failed to acknowledge and represent a few communities including international students.
