Making the adjustment to a new university can be a challenge for any incoming freshman, but for international students it is a new world entirely. For Megan Dias who is pursuing her degree at the University of South Florida, this was her first time in America. Dias is from Bahrain, a Middle Eastern island in the Persian Gulf. While she initially struggled when adjusting to a new country, Dias now flourishes as a Bull and has become one of the most involved students on campus.
“I had never been to America before coming for university,” Dias said. “Initially, I did experience some culture shock as most international students do, but you get over it soon enough.”
Dias has taken student involvement to the next step by creating a goal to be involved in 100 student organizations by the time she graduates. For Dias, this does not mean joining each organization out of the more than 600 organizations USF has to offer. Simply by becoming involved through a meeting, event, or program, Dias makes strides to achieving her personal goal. As she strives to become active on campus, Dias has been a part of the Student Development Board for Bulls Forever Fund, the International Students Association, and pursuing the Global Citizen Award with the Global Citizens Project.
“I love trying new things and meeting new people,” Dias said. “The best way to do that is to get involved and step out of your comfort zone.”
Dias is in her last year as a marketing student at USF Muma College of Business. Dias found the education system in America to be better because of the student involvement offered on campus. Dias chose to pursue her degree at USF because of the wider range of majors, where Bahrain is limited to the courses offered at their universities.
Dias’s most rewarding experience thus far has been her involvement with Eudaimonia, a student organization that focuses on spreading goodness throughout the university. As the Social Media chair on their executive board, Dias is directly involved with their events where they spread positivity on campus by give free hugs to students or words of encouragement during stressful times.
“I think it’s really important that we do random acts of kindness, especially on college campuses because students tend to be very stressed and in their own bubble,” Dias said. “Sometimes people just need a stranger to give them a hug and tell them they’re worth it because the best way to remove negativity from people’s lives is to fill it with positivity.”
The iBuddy program has also aided Dias in adjusting to USF during her first semester. The iBuddy program at USF pairs international and domestic students with the intentions for forming new friendships and aiding international students with adjusting to a new culture.
Dias has helped others by becoming a Network Leader for New Student Connections. As a leader for the International Interest Network team, Dias helps international students during their transition into USF. While this experience has helped her grow professionally and personally, Dias assists these students to find their niche on campus.
“I can relate to their concerns on a very personal level because I was once in their shoes,” Dias said.
When first meeting Dias, she will greet you with a warm hug and sincere smile. Her friends all expressed how Dias brings a light to their lives and to everyone she meets. As an international student herself, Dias expressed how the diverse student body at USF assisted her in adjusting to a new country. Daniela Cupello Daoudi, Dias’s roommate, considers Dias to be a lifelong friend who has positively influenced her.
“She is also one of the most social people I know, greeting anybody she walks by and wishing them a great day, in the end making me more social with people,” Daoudi said.
Her diverse group of friends includes international and domestic students. Dias misses her family most about Bahrain, but her group of friends support her when homesickness occurs. Marti Lopez, a close friend and fellow international student, shared stories about how Dias automatically complimented her when they first met and reflected on memories they have shared.
“We literally became sisters,” Lopez said about the first time she met Dias. “She has a great heart and is tremendously energetic and wants to experience as much as she can.”
While USF has positively impacted Dias, it is apparent the impact she has on those she encounters. Dias hopes to achieve her goal of being involved in 100 organizations as she nears the end of her college career and continue to make memories while reaching this objective.
“I want to positively impact others and make them see their own self-worth,” Dias said. “I want to continue to lead through example, and be a positive influence on the community at USF.”