Anusha Shaik

Once as an international student, I know the struggle of coming to foreign country where we left all our family back home to pursue our dreams. We come with no knowledge of the United States culture, or any other culture except our own bubble. Having no family or relatives to guide us, we must trust social media to know including our stay, ride, work opportunities etc.

Network of Nations has been filling that gap to make internationals feel like home and make friends not only from one country but multiple countries, that’s not the end of it- they pick up students from the airports to drop them at the destination (blew my mind when I heard that), not just in regular time but also during COVID. Serving international students in various capacities like market during pandemic, community for students through café, GLOW for women’s community. Network of Nations has been very adaptive to the circumstances of international student’s houses as well when there was no more housing available for the incoming students to NIU. There are many other ways that Network of Nations works with students, which I'm not aware of either, excited to know myself.

All of this could be a faraway dream, but it came true only through your generosity. Your generosity has not only made a difference in my life but in hundreds of students' lives and will keep making a difference. You have gone above and beyond on your generosity with Network and Nations to help students and I’m appreciative and hope you will continue with your generosity. If you haven’t been able to participate in giving with the Network of Nations, please give it a try and see the fruit of what you have sowed.