By Qianyu (Margaret) Cheng
Hi everyone, welcome to ISSS blog. Today I am glad to talk about my experience as being a international orientation student leader. I have been a IOSL for two years and it is one of the best experiences I have on campus.
I applied to be a IOSL back when I was a freshman. I was once confused and panic for the unknown college life. Yet so many have helped me in all aspects, both in life and in academic. After a while when I finally settled down and comfortable with everything, the application of IOSL on ISSS newsletter attracted me. Every year there are many international students come to university of Illinois, and they will all experience the same thing I had been through. Since I have been helped by so many people, I want to help the new students back so that they can have the same positive study abroad experience as mine.
After I applied, I had been invited to a group interview and interview in person, whereas in the second one I met with both my future supervisor and also international student orientation coordinator. After two interviews, I finally got a phone call that said it would be a last round. However when I got there, I got to meet plenty other students and when they told me I was selected to be a new IOSL, I could not express how happy I am!
The training process of IOSL was fun and I got to know the IOSL family and all of the awesome students and staff in ISSS. The fellow IOSLs were super fun to work with, and it's even more fun to know them as persons. What's more in the training, we got to know more about campus resources and how international student can benefit from all of the available resources.
After summer, the fall semester started and our battle was on. There was one saying in China says:"You trained a soldier for thousands days and use he for one time." But being a IOSL is not only a one time thing. It's a journey to help and serve new students. During the orientation process, I was so impressed by the international orientation and how much the ISSS staff and students work to help new students to have a more smooth check in experience. Meanwhile, we were all there to answer the new students' questions. At first I was nervous and did not know if I could answer question properly, but later on I was totally in the mood and ready to serve new students. It's so refreshing to help them understand school and academic system. Although the orientation was really intense and we might talk to hundreds of students in one day, once I saw the smiles on their faces and "thank you", I felt that all efforts worth. After orientation, there are also plenty of events and fun thing to do as IOSL. For example, we helped with indoor World Cup and BBQ and all other events. I also became the blogger for ISSS and got to share my study and life experience with fellow international students.
I really enjoyed the IOSL role so that I came back for the second year, and I found IOSL really a good thing to do even if I already had the training. I learnt so much new stuff and met new people, but I was able to do the same mission: to help with new students.
Although I was still learning, when I looked back, I really grew a lot compared to what I was in freshman year. I really appreciated IOSL experience and all the care of ISSS staff. ISSS becomes my second home and I just love everyone. If I graduated, and anyone asked for what I loved most in my college life, I would definitely say: being a IOSL. It's a highlight of my study abroad experience, and it taught me so much as a person: to give back and help those in need, and there will be so much joy that you can not think.