International Education Week

We encourage the participation of all individuals and institutions interested in international education and exchange activities, including schools, colleges and universities, embassies, international organizations, businesses, associations, and community organizations.

The dates for IEW 2010 are November 15th – 19th. The dates for IEW 2011 are November 14th – 18th.

This year we had the following country presentations (PowerPoint):

• Kyrgyzstan (by Kanykei Kadyrberdieva)
• Moldova (by Victoria Vlad)
• South Korea (by YunJe Lee, Youn Kim, and Soyoung Kim)
• Myanmar (Burma) (by Yi Mon Thet Aung and Wai Lwin Thet Aung)
• Ukraine (by Ivan Okhin)

My dream was and still is to study in the USA. My dream came true this year. In December 2008 I applied for Global UGRAD. I took part in this contest of IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board) and was selected for participation in the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program, a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State and administered by IREX.

Being a student at Riverland is a wonderful experience. Actually is the way you make your experience. But this is another story. Initially I didn’t want to come to Riverland. I was happy to know I won the contest, but my happiness vanished when I found out my location. I wanted to quit the chance. I wrote to the IREX Senior Program Officer, telling her I’m disappointed in the location they chose for me. I judged it without knowing it. With the help of my parents, who gave great advice, I realized that was not a chance to be missed.

Here I am, at Riverland College, I simply love it. And yes, it is the way you make it. I am a full time student, enjoying the courses offered at Austin Campus, such as Financial Accounting, Personal Financial Management and Planning and Popular Culture.

I am a positive, hard-working girl, and every day I struggle for my dreams, I walk on the path of life with my head up, trying to be the best in everything that I do. Riverland and its teachers and advisers, all try to make everything better, just for you. They are focusing on individuals. This way you feel more special and responsible to be a good student.

I successfully completed a series of trainings in Business and Leaderships: Leader Project, Richard Ivey School of Business, May 2009. Also I have an award of completion the Summer School of Business and Leadership, June 2009, Romania, Brasov. In April 2009, I took an award taking part in the International Symposium of Young Researchers, with a project called “Development of International Economic Relations in conditions of economic crisis”. I also have an award in a Literature International contest, Romania, July 2007. I am a journalist at my Faculty’s newspaper “REI-Action”.

Every day I try to acquire knowledge and the best experiences here, at the college. On campus, a lot of opportunities wait to be experienced. I mean about the student organizations you can get involved in and keep yourself busy, getting skills for your future career. Currently, I am the President of Amnesty International. Also, in the International Student Club I have the Vice-President role, which requires me to assist the President in coordinating club’s activities. As a Phi Theta Kappa provisional member recently I took part in the Fall Leadership Conference. Moreover, I had the chance to participate at the MN Student Leadership Summit, as a member of the Student Senate.

Back in my country I volunteered for the Association of European Trainers from Moldova. As a Riverland student, I took part in American Red Cross and Austin Public Library volunteer activities.

You can gather a valuable experience and meet great people at Riverland. It is an honor for me to be a part of an energetic team of young people who have the same values and ideas as I do.

Riverland helps me a lot. My long-term career prospects are enhanced by my experiences through the development of self-confidence, independence and cross-cultural skills.

Returning to “the other story” it is really up to you weather you want to have a good experience or not at Riverland. My experience is amazing.

“The best is yet to be”. ~Robert Brown~