International Boilermakers find home away from home in Purdue Health and Human Sciences

Written By: Rebecca Hoffa, rhoffa@purdue.edu 

As the No. 1 most recognized public university in the United States and the No. 9 most recognized university in the world, according to American Caldwell, Purdue University welcomes Boilermakers from around the world to campus each year. While taking the next giant leap into college is a big deal for any student, international students often face distinct challenges, from adapting to a different culture and social norms to navigating the ins and outs of a new government and education system.  

Having found their niche at Purdue, four College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) international students are sharing their experiences and advice for getting the most from their global education.  

Loay Alam 

Loay Alam(Photo provided)

Year: Junior 

Major: Hospitality and tourism management 

Country of Origin: Saudi Arabia 

How have you found belonging in Purdue HHS? 

The faculty and staff are so helpful. As an international student, I was not aware of a lot of things with how the education system works here. My academic advisor was a good mentor in guiding me through my courses. I’m also doing an internship in the Union Club Hotel. The White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management requires internship courses, and I was kind of lost on how to apply, so the school helped me get the internship and made the procedures easier. 

What resources have you found particularly helpful? 

The Ray Kavanaugh Career Center has helped me a lot. Also, the professors — I’m interested in the master’s program, and Professor Alei Fan was very helpful and guided me on what to do. Whenever I ask for something, the faculty are always helpful. Also, with Purdue in general, if you have a problem, it can always be solved. The whole campus makes you feel like you want to stay here. 

What is your best advice for international students at Purdue? 

Try to make friends from different countries to get a better understanding of everyone. For me, that was the main thing, to get involved in activities that made me go and talk to people. 

Abdulrazzaq Altarawa 

Abdulrazzaq Altarawa(Photo provided)

Year: Senior 

Major: Psychological sciences 

Country of Origin: Kuwait 

How have you found belonging in Purdue HHS? 

There was an announcement in one of my classes recruiting people for a graduate mentor program in the Department of Psychological Sciences, so I decided to take the opportunity and become a mentee. My graduate mentor helped me explore volunteering opportunities and extracurriculars. Slowly but surely, once I opened myself up to these extracurriculars, I really felt like I found a home for myself here. Because that mentor program was so great, I joined the HHS Success Mentors program, and now I am a Core Leadership Team member. It’s like a big family. Everyone knows each other — it’s really great. Through that involvement, volunteering and other extracurriculars, I’ve grown my network and really rooted myself here at Purdue. 

What resources have you found particularly helpful? 

The Academic Success Center has been a really big help for me whenever I struggle with assignments or studying. Another resource that has been immensely helpful — because I’m a person who loves double- and triple-checking with my work — is the Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab. I’m a big perfectionist, so having that has been really helpful. 

What is your best advice for international students at Purdue? 

Try and find belonging by going to the cultural centers of your own culture. I feel like people have found significant success in finding a home through those cultural centers and connecting with people similar to them. 

Sharada Shetty 

Sharada Shetty(Photo provided)

Year: Senior 

Major: Selling and sales management and psychological sciences 

Country of Origin: Singapore  

How have you found belonging in Purdue HHS? 

The curriculum has sharpened my STEM and business skills while pushing me beyond my comfort zone. Before coming to Purdue, I wasn’t confident in public speaking, but my coursework and experiences here have helped me become comfortable presenting without a script and speaking with confidence. I also actively seek out other international students who understand the challenges of adapting to a new culture, which has helped me build a strong support system. 

What resources have you found particularly helpful? 

Having access to programs such as Salesforce and Excel has been incredibly valuable, not just in the classroom but also in real-world applications. The hands-on experience with these platforms has given me a strong foundation that proved essential during my internships. 

What is your best advice for international students at Purdue? 

Get involved in clubs and student organizations — it’s one of the best ways to meet people and immerse yourself in campus life. Secondly, connect with other international students across different majors. Having a network of people who understand the cultural transition can make the adjustment much easier and more enjoyable. 

Maria Zablah Zaid 

Maria Zablah Zaid(Photo provided)

Year: Senior 

Major: Selling and sales management and retail management 

Country of Origin: El Salvador 

How have you found belonging in Purdue HHS? 

The most important thing for me was getting involved in clubs. I’m president of the National Retail Federation Student Association and was treasurer before that. I’ve made a lot of friends who have the same interests. It’s been fun meeting people from other backgrounds who I probably would have never met if I wasn’t part of those clubs. 

What resources have you found particularly helpful? 

The professors are super helpful. They’re open and happy to connect during office hours outside of class time. The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab is also super helpful when I have to write essays, papers and journals. 

What is your best advice for international students at Purdue? 

Don’t be afraid of leaving your home. You’re going to find people you’re going to vibe with. Be confident in yourself and that the place you end up at is the place you’re meant to be.