Our Experience as International Student Ambassadors: A Semester in Review
Reflections on a Semester of Ambassadorship
This semester, our dedicated International Student Ambassadors at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) took on the unique opportunity to share their experiences, support their peers, and showcase what life at MIC has to offer.
As ambassadors, they became the bridge between the college and the wider international student community, offering insights, guidance, and a warm welcome to those navigating a new environment.
In this joint blog post, Mai, Stephanie and Julia reflect on the challenges they faced, the memorable moments they created, and the personal growth they experienced in their ambassadorial roles. Through their stories, we hope you’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the vibrant and inclusive community that makes MIC truly special.
Mai Nguyen (Vietnam)
I don’t have as much time as I think I do so I would rather do too much than too little. That was my thought going to a Master’s experience at Mary I. That was also why I applied to become an International Student Ambassador on top of moving to a new country, studying full time, working on personal projects, and aspiring to discover Ireland’s every nook and cranny within a year. I could not be happier with my decision.
Each week’s blog and social media submissions were my excuses to constantly capture and reflect on my journey. I came to see every moment as a potential "candidate" to become a treasured memory. Ambassador works have also been my chance to give back to the community as a recipient of the Government of Ireland's scholarship, without which none of this would have happened. The bonuses were a bag full of complementary gifts and the opportunity to become Education in Ireland’s ambassador thanks to the nomination from the International Office.
My journey as a Mary I's Student Ambassador might end here, but I will forever be a Mary I's advocate at heart. I stand by my point: you don’t have as much time as you think you do so it’s better to do too much than too little. I really enjoyed my "too much".
Stephanie Gonzalez (USA) and Julia Nimat Allah (Israel)
Remembering the good, and laughing at one’s mistakes is extremely important to one’s own sanity. Ireland and MIC have been so influential to Julia’s and my life in more ways than we are able to express. This is one of the many reasons we were so excited to participate in being international student ambassadors, and when given the opportunity to do this with your best friend and housemate, it really wasn’t a question.
We have grown as individuals, and while no amount of ‘tips and tricks’ can truly prepare a person for the endeavor of studying abroad and/or living abroad without knowing a soul, it never hurts to share one’s experience hoping it will help at least one student preparing to take the leap.
The ambassador program has created a space for us to reflect on how far we have come from terrified first years to seasoned third/fourth years (with only one or two more wrinkles than before). We have had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with the ambassadors whose work you’ve read in past blogs. Julia and I are very grateful for the opportunity to have been allowed to work as a team in this program and hope to aid the international office and students with anything they may need in the future.
Overall, 10/10 would recommend!
Annemarie Menche (Germany)
The semester at MIC has been such a wonderful and unique experience, I cannot stress the greatness of this opportunity at all! MIC has proven itself to be a welcoming, warm and friendly environment, both academically and personally. Travelling through Ireland has shown me the beauty of this island, and I am eternally grateful to have experienced it with such good friends as I have made here.
By stepping out of one's comfort zones and trying out new things, one is sure to grow as a person – and I can only agree with that. The experiences I had here definitely shaped me positively; enabling a better understanding of myself and others. This, I am sure, is one of the greatest gifts I found here.
I am grateful for the opportunity to act as a student ambassador to MIC and be part of the planning and organizing of my stay abroad. The time I spent here will forever be remembered fondly, and I am thankful for every day I spent in such good company and nurturing environment. I can only recommend a stay abroad - especially at MIC! :)
Solimar Patriota Silva (Brazil)
Being almost 50, having a fourteen-year-old child and leaving my job and family behind to take up a postgraduate course at Mary Immaculate College seemed to be a big challenge. So when I applied to be an international student ambassador, I was hesitant if I would be able to accomplish such an important goal.
Now that my term is coming to the end, I am grateful I did apply. I am grateful for MIC's trust in me. I am grateful for all the orientation provided be the International Office with meetings, reminders and insights for our topics. I am especially grateful for the companionship of the other ambassadors who were great in supporting, sharing ideas and teaching about their cultures. I am grateful for CAPES which made taking this course possible for me, as a teacher in Brazil. And I am grateful for my 27 other colleagues from Brazil for their support, ideas, knowledge and friendship. I am very happy to have learned so much about Irish history and culture. And I am very glad I can show everyone out there that your age does not matter, nor does the stage of life you are in. If you want to study abroad, participating in an exchange program can totally be something for you, for sure!
What I learned in my role as international student ambassador is that Ireland is a friendly country with a rich history of brave people. And they inspired me when I came here to make my dream come true.
To everyone, I just have to say my heart is full of gratitude! Go raibh maith agat!
A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Ambassadors
As this semester comes to a close, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our international student ambassadors for their dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work. Their contributions have made a lasting impact on the MIC community, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with such talented and inspiring individuals, and we are so proud of everything they have accomplished. Thank you for sharing your experiences and for being such incredible representatives of MIC—your efforts truly make a difference!
