Creating Community and Inspiring Growth

“It’s exciting and encouraging to see international students interact with peers and truly embrace the UC Davis college experience,” says Kailyn Lozano, a fourth-year undergraduate at UC Davis who has been working as a student assistant with CPE’s International Programs since her freshman year. Helping international students feel safe in their new environment and supporting them in their day-to-day life on campus are some of the ways students like Kailyn contribute to the welcoming and inclusive student life experience at UC Davis. 

Whether international learners are traveling to UC Davis to pursue academic research, learn English or immerse themselves in the American culture, they all have one-on-one access to our dedicated UC Davis undergraduate and graduate student assistants, who serve as conversation partners, local guides, campus resources, activity planners and more. 

Tia Cheng, a grad student, and Nicole Purba, a fourth-year undergrad, agree with Kailyn that seeing students thrive at UC Davis and become more confident in their new environment are very rewarding. They also admit that the relationship is mutually beneficial as they too have grown from their interactions with the international students they support. 

Tell me about your role as a student assistant. 

Kailyn: My role varies daily. I accompany them on field trips to San Francisco and Sacramento, assist with airport pick-ups and drop-offs and serve as a conversation partner in various courses. Recently, I’ve focused more on logistics and planning activities and events throughout the quarter. My favorite event is the annual Halloween party. I love seeing our students express their creativity through unique costumes and pumpkin carving abilities. 

Nicole: I typically assist with activity planning, answering questions about Davis life, connecting students with resources and contributing to their overall Davis experience. I’m also the social media manager for International Programs where I post snippets of their daily life and local events. 

Tia: I work closely with students in the GREAT Summer Research Program and Global Study Program. I help with orientation, answering questions about life at UC Davis and organizing activities such as campus tours, trips to the farmers market and tours of downtown Davis. These interactions are a blend of offering guidance and making sure students feel comfortable navigating their new environment. 

What kind of support do you offer students? 

Tia: I help international students adjust to campus life by helping them with practical things like understanding campus resources, joining events and connecting with local students. I also help them feel more integrated into the UC Davis community by organizing social activities. 

Kailyn: I also believe it’s important to connect them with campus resources, and I encourage them to explore all that the university has to offer. 

Nicole: I’m passionate about keeping the students connected. It’s so important, particularly for our students in the short-term programs, to get acquainted with the campus, so I create digestible information for them on activities and events within Davis, on-campus clubs, volunteering opportunities and resources that anyone can access! I also make sure that students hear about what’s happening around Davis by posting weekly newsletters that can be found throughout the International Center. 

Kailyn: We also strive to build their confidence in speaking English through engaging conversations and persistent encouragement. 

How do you think international students benefit from interacting with local students like yourself? 

Tia: As an international student myself, I understand the challenges of adapting to a new culture. By sharing my personal experiences, I help them navigate cultural differences, find great places to eat and utilize campus resources effectively. This support helps students feel more confident in their day-to-day life. 

Nicole: I love to keep the energy high on orientation day because I know how difficult it is for some of our students to get acquainted with a new culture, new school and new experiences. I usually notice something about them—like their hair color or K-pop merch—and spark conversations from it. I like to believe that my efforts make them comfortable. 

Kailyn: Being a student assistant enables me to support the academic pursuits of students from diverse cultural backgrounds. In our STEM-focused programs, I have chaperoned students on educational field trips to places like the UC Davis Raptor Center, Bohart Museum of Entomology, Monterey Marine Lab, and Sacramento forensics lab, along with various scientific museums. It’s incredibly rewarding to support and witness the enthusiasm of young people eager to explore their fields of interest. 

What kind of impact have you seen on the international students’ confidence, language skills or social connections because of your interactions? 

Nicole: We host a Conversation Club every Wednesday, an hour of speaking to students about anything and occasionally playing games together. In the beginning, they tend to be shy, but as the weeks progress, they start to initiate conversations. I know that my extroverted personality can be shocking to some of them, but they always end up matching my excitement. I feel so proud seeing them become more confident with their English skills! 

Tia: I’ve seen students grow more confident in engaging with their peers and professors as they adapt to life here. Participating in group activities and receiving guidance on navigating cultural differences boosts their social skills, and their ability to communicate in English improves significantly. 

Nicole: The students love speaking with us! I think these cultural exchanges are so important. Seeing their shock and amazement at American culture reminds me how what we think may be normal is a completely different world for them. 

What have you gained from working with our international students? 

Kailyn: I have learned so much from our in-depth conversations about our cultural differences and similarities in education, norms, traditions, superstitions, familial expectations and work culture. 

Nicole: This role has taught me a lot about different cultures and communication. I’ve also been reflecting on my goal of pursuing medicine, a field that emphasizes helping others. 

Kailyn: Over the past three years, I have gained invaluable experience and developed my interpersonal and communication skills, as well as cultural literacy and sensitivity. I have also been able to share my passion for science with students, inspiring me to continue my love for teaching in my future career. 

Tia: I’ve gained a deeper understanding of various cultures and learned how to approach different situations with patience and empathy. Working with students from diverse backgrounds has broadened my perspective on global engagement, and I’ve developed stronger communication and writing skills through my job, which is very helpful! 

Nicole: These past two years have reminded me about having an open heart and being an attentive listener. It’s also given me the goal to go abroad after graduating! Hopefully, I can visit some of the friends I’ve made in their country.

Learn more about our International Programs.