Being international and finding your path can be an intimidating experience with a lot of rejections where you lose hope and the willingness to move on. But as Jonathan Javier from Wonsulting sayâs âRejection is redirectionâ and I have been very fortunate in my journey to be inspired by many International and First Generation leaders who find hope when there was none.
Weâve written ways to get international students jobs through job search strategies and more., and I hope this helps you to continue to stay motivated during difficult times. Being a first generational international graduate myself I know the importance of community and being resilient.
Thus, I interviewed 5 international professionals from companies such as Verizon Media, Amazon, NBA, Google X, and Microsoft who were able to land in their dream careers that give insights to keeping a positive mindset. Here is a bit of positivity and hope to keep you going on your rainy day.
Dev Wadhwa, an Incoming Product Intern @ Verizon Media who is part of our Wonsulting Community, says:
the one thing that keeps me going is a drive to turn out to be better â not better than other individual but rather better than what I was yesterday. This can be applied to all parts of life - 'Am I truly more grounded than yesterday?', 'Am I gaining more headway than I was yesterday?', 'Did I come a smidgen in front of where I was yesterday?'. The lone individual I like to rival is myself, yet this didn't happen overnight.
My objectives and desires are immensely different than of those around me. I'm a Computer Science major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (one of the top 3 CS schools in the country) yet I am not a major aficionado of unadulterated Computer Science. While my companions were meaning to fill in as a SWE or a SDE at FAANG, I was all the while sorting out what precisely I need to do. I cherished Tech however I additionally adored Business and that is the point at which I understood I wished to work at the cross-part of both, yet I did not understand how to do that.
I began networking with professionals and researched the boundless assets accessible on the web and wound up with a Product Management Internship for Summer 2021 at Verizon Media (Yahoo!). I will be doing something I think I love yet something which individuals around me don't do usually. I took an unconventional path since this is my story and by the day's end, I want to say that I narrated it. I believed in myself and I took help from the people who are dying to give back to others - and that's what I want you to do!
The goal is to be better today than yesterday, with a plan to become even better tomorrow.
Iris Guo, an Incoming Product Manager at Google X, says:
Internal drive is the beginning and ending of everything because without it, you won't be able to accomplish anything. I am usually motivated by my purpose of life and what I want to accomplish in the long term. I would encourage all of you to reflect internally about your why and write it down somewhere you can see daily. Another tip is to celebrate the small wins and pat yourself on the back for any goals you achieved such us waking up at 7am or working out for 30 min a day. The last tip is to find an accountability partner to support you in your journey and head to the next milestone together.
Greg Coquillo, a Technology Manager at Amazon whoâs spoken at Wonsulting Events such as for The20, says:
As a first-generation immigrant to the United States I've watched the country grow more aware of what makes it unique, which is its culturally-diverse population. I've witnessed people who had nothing to their names build legacies for their family and beyond, that will stand the test of time. All of this is made possible with a combination of grit, self-confidence, hard work and opportunity.
I am fully aware that the last one is something you don't control entirely. However, you can create your own path to opportunities by accessing the vast array of knowledge that exists around you in people, books and the online world, and by taking action.
Nobody can take away my intelligence, nor yours. Knowing this empowers me to create a better world for my children, their children, and those who are inspired or positively impacted by what I do.
Overall, the biggest driver for what keeps me motivated is realizing that I'm in a critical position to pay it forward to others who have the potential to exponentially amplify my work and what I've achieved over the years.
I firmly believe that if you'd like to teach others how to grow, you have to be willing to learn how to grow, daily. This is the reason why I make a point to learn something new every day.
Every day, I allow my curiosity to be my fuel for growth. And lastly I would like everyone to remember that if those in the past have done it, so can we, so can you!"
Olaseni Adeniji, a Product Manager and Wonsulting mentee, says the following:
Being an international student is a very unique position. You have moved away from many things (family, friends, a territory you knew very well, and more) into a foreign place. You get here and have had to overcome multiple barriers like language, culture, and many other things, but among all that, you keep your head high and attack each day with a goal in mind. First, I want to commend you, and if no one has told you to take it from me - You are doing amazing!
I am an international student from Nigeria, so many of the struggles international students go through I have gone through and some I am still going through. Among all that, I want to share things that have helped me:
Never forget the goal that brought you here - Keep that top of mind, and you will succeed.
Be on top of things - Especially with career, one major disadvantage we have is we often do not have time on our hands. For example, upon graduation, you have to go to grad school, get a job, or leave the country. So please start everything you do early to give yourself enough time to execute (see this article I wrote for your reference)
When things get hard find support - Be a part of your school communities, utilize wonsulting, and many others out there. One thing I can promise you is whatever struggle or fear you have, someone before you has gone through it and come out victorious. So please find support.
Often in life, it is very easy to focus on all the negatives (no judgment, it is human nature), but I hope you recognize how unique you and your background are and how that will only propel you to greater heights and immense success. So my advice to you from one international student to another: never give up regardless of how cloudy things may seem now, things do get better :)
Nikhil Nair whoâs a Product Analyst at NBA, says the following:
as an international student, the two qualities that have enabled me to overcome most challenges have been - patience and gratitude. I always make it a point to write down a list of things that I'm grateful for whenever I'm feeling low, and this helps bring a sense of peace that serves as an impetus to stay focused on my goals. I resonate strongly with Churchill's words in difficult times as these "Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.
At this moment after enduring a pandemic, patience is the key to achieving the next target that could be landing a dream job or getting into the school of your choice. I'd say, keep at it, do not lose hope, and the results will show.
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âSuccess is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.â
â Winston Churchill
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I hope these stories inspire you to continue to keep taking small steps to continue to move forward. Winning together has always been my purpose to uplift and help others grow and whatâs kept me motivated is to know that no matter how dark my day gets I know even I donât have my support system around me, I can always be my own superhero and there will be light at the end of the tunnel if I push myself towards it. I know thereâs light at the end of your tunnel as well.
As Jerry Lee from Wonsulting says:
#YouGotThis! Keep moving forward. Stronger together!
Customer Success & Sales @ Wonsulting
Public Sector, Client Experience & Ops @ Softchoice
#WinWithAlvin | Come Say Hi! IG: @alvinmeledath
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