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My name is Hitasha Nagdeo. I am graduating in December 2023 with my MS in Social Media and Mobile Marketing degree.

I consider myself a global person. I was born in India and spent the initial years of my life there. Then, at the age of 5, I moved to the Middle East, specifically Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, and completed middle school there, before returning to India.

Now I’m in my third country, the United States—my newfound home and the place I aspire to call home for the rest of my life.

I appreciate ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø, not just for its academic profile, but also for the comprehensive support that it provides which is especially important for me as an international student.

I fell in love with New York before I fell in love with ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø. Having said that, ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø has its own merits to fall in love with. I appreciate ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø, not just for its academic profile, but also for the comprehensive support that it provides, which is especially important for me as an international student. I was also really drawn to my program because, unlike at other schools, it’s a STEM-designated program, which is an important distinction for international students like me who can get a longer visa duration if we’re enrolled in a STEM program.

Transitioning to a new country was challenging, even for someone who had experienced it before. Fortunately, ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø offered unwavering support whenever I needed it. From professors guiding me through academic uncertainties to friends facing similar challenges, the support system was robust. Not to mention the wealth of resources available on campus. The International Students and Scholar’s department has been a pillar of support since before my arrival in the US, and Career Services has played a vital role in helping me secure an on-campus position and preparing me for life after graduation.

I really love being able to talk to international students and give back all the support I was given.

Currently, I have two student assistant roles. One is as a graduate assistant in the Lubin School of Business for the director of my program and Associate Dean of the undergraduate program, Randi Priluck, PhD, where I help keep her materials updated with current market trends and assist students. The other student assistantship is with Campus Planning and Facilities, which I’ve been doing since the summer of 2022. I do whatever they need me to do, offering any administrative support I can provide.

I also volunteer off-campus with Kaplan Pathways India, a company that ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø partners with. I’ve actually been a student speaker for them as well and spoke about my experience to other international students. I was so glad to be able to speak with them and clear up their doubts, I even had some one-on-one sessions with students. (Apparently most of them enrolled!) Now, I’m working on creating content for Kaplan, everything from covering ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø career fairs, recommending how to pack when moving to the US, and creating Christmas themed content. I really love being able to talk to international students and give back all the support I was given.

As I get closer to graduation, I'm getting ready and manifesting good things.

I’ll be honest, it’s really difficult working two jobs, volunteering, staying involved in clubs, and keeping up with my schoolwork. Sometimes it can take a toll, but the fact is, especially as an international student, I've put in a lot of effort and money also to be here. I'm at a stage where I want to make sure everything that I do is in order and meeting the quality of that is required.

That brings us to now. Commencement is coming and I’ve been working with Career Services to find a job. As I get closer to graduation, I'm getting ready and manifesting good things. I try to remember that all this work is building to what I want to do. ÌÒñ«ÉçÇø has had such a positive impact on me, and I want to just pass that on.