FRIENDLY SKIES
Thai aviation student serves as international ambassador
By Nakanya Rodruepid
Nakanya Rodruepid
Last fall, MTSU’s Office of International Affairs launched an international student ambassador program in which current international students mentor incoming international students. The ambassadors help students adjust to the U.S., get involved on campus, and learn how to be successful at MTSU. Nakanya Rodruepid, a senior Honors student from Thailand, was one of the first ambassadors to write a blog post for the new program. Most people call me Matoom, which is a type of fruit, but my legal name is Nakanya Rodruepid. I came about 9,000 miles from my home country of Thailand to pursue my aviation dream and become a professional pilot. When I was in high school, MTSU sent a representative to Thailand to promote the school, and I decided to attend MTSU because of the resources and scholarships available for international students and the quality of the Aerospace program.
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ARETÉ MAGAZINE | Fall 2021
I came about 9,000 miles from my home country of Thailand to pursue my aviation dream and become a professional pilot. It is not easy to move to a new country, but I remember the day that I landed in Nashville and a volunteer picked me up from the airport. It was a heartwarming welcome that has continued throughout my four years at MTSU. I enjoy the frequent international student dinners within walking distance of campus, and there is good conversation with local and other international students with only one rule for the meetings: We speak only English.
