I had Never Set Foot in America—But My Peer Coach Helped Me Feel at Home

By Lian T. (not her real name), First-Year Student from Vietnam

I still remember how surreal it felt when I first considered applying to a university in the United States. I had never visited. I didn’t have family there. All I knew about the U.S. came from Hollywood movies and the occasional online article. The application portals, essay prompts, and even the idea of “extracurriculars” felt foreign. My parents were supportive, but they had no idea what the Common App was, and neither did my high school teachers.

That’s when I met Sophie (not her real name), a peer advisor studying at a liberal arts college in the Midwest. She was Korean American and had grown up in California, but she had worked with several international students before. Our first Zoom call lasted over an hour. She didn’t just explain deadlines or how to list activities; she asked about me. What I enjoyed. What I was proud of. Where I felt out of place.

She helped me realize that my volunteer work teaching English to rural kids wasn’t just a kind thing I did—it was leadership. It was impact. That shift in mindset changed everything. Sophie didn’t just tell me what to write; she helped me understand why my story mattered.

Through our sessions, I learned how to present myself authentically while still aligning with what American schools look for. We reviewed my essays, talked through my interview jitters, and even practiced how to email admissions officers (a thing I didn’t know students actually did!).

When the acceptance letters came, I had choices. I chose a school that valued community, offered support for international students, and had the same warmth I felt from Sophie. I haven’t stepped foot on campus yet—visa delays are still real—but I already feel like I belong.