Dear Editor,
This is in reference to the article on Jan. 30 regarding international students.
As an international student myself, kindly allow me to express my gratitude to my university.
I came to OSU in the fall of 2003, and graduated in 2006 with a Master of Science in industrial engineering.
While I was here I was often critical of several things.
Well, like they say, the grass always seems greener on the other side — to cut a long story short, I was accepted into the Ph. D. program at a state ivy in the New England region. Two years later, I am back. Why?.
First off, my experience taught me that OSU has something unique — that something is the welcoming demeanor, that exudes warmth, about the people at OSU.
Second, we are second to none in our research potential, at least in my research area. If we put in our 100 percent we can achieve anything we aim for here.
But, most critically, OSU offers, as the article correctly pointed out, a place where one can apply one’s talents to the fullest in an encouraging, quiet, nonfrenetic manner.
For me, this is the place where I can learn, enjoy what I am doing, and feel at home while I am learning.
If anything, we must pay homage to several factors and people that encourage such an atmosphere.
My friends, there are several things that we may crib and complain about while we are here — but, let me emphatically suggest: No place is perfect, and all that glitters is not gold.
I have learned it the hard way. So, I exhort my international colleagues to take advantage of what OSU has to offer, build strong connections with our US hosts without restricting ourselves to ethnocentric cliques, to explore this beautiful country, and, remember we all “bleed orange,” mate!
Prahalad K. Rao
Ph.D student, industrial engineering
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