The American Dream for International Students at Wabash Valley College: A Journey of Roses or Thorns?

What is there in store for those who come from afar?

Foreigners, immigrants, international—some of the names we call people who come from a different country. Their motives can be varied. Whether it is a change, an escape, or a fresh start, one thing is certain. The new destination is the hope for a better life which can unveil infinite possibilities and opportunities.

If we take some time off to look around us, we can see our international friends everywhere. They are our colleagues, our classmates, our professors, our waiters, or even the strangers that pass us on the street. Each of them carry their own, unique story hidden behind joyful eyes and carefree laughs.

Lopez Meka, an international student and a part-time worker at Wabash Valley College, and I had a chance to reminisce about our experience in the United States so far. We exchanged our own stories, especially the incidents that happened behind the scenes that we had never talked to anyone about. He is a winter soldier, a determined man in difficult times, I would say, but to him, he is "just Lopez."

Lopez and his international friends at Wabash Valley College 2024-2025.

Lopez is an optimistic person. He has every trait I wish I had. He is outgoing, friendly, extroverted, helpful, and he is always there for his friends. Whenever I have needed life advice, Lopez has never let me down. I can imagine him enduring challenges like a grain of salt. Therefore, I was astonished to hear Lopez reveal his truth.

"It's been hard," Lopez nodded. "After I graduated, I decided to study abroad because I wanted to study my skills. In my major, I studied about wood working. I didn't have a tool. Technology is not very developed in my country. So that's why I came here to study abroad in this country and build my own business."

Lopez practicing welding in Olney Central College.

With a simple outfit, a positive outlook to the future, and a dream, Lopez traveled all the way from his home to the U.S. on his own. He never complains, as this was solely his decision for his life: to start over from scratch. He believes in a better future and opportunities that this country can offer to him. 

“When you travel, you leave everything.” Lopez calmly rested his hands on his knees and remained attentive to my wide-eyed gaze. “I start[ed] over—friends, family, everyone.” This is undeniably one of the most difficult challenges to accept as an international student. Years of effort and achievements earned in your home country, alongside all the relationships built, are left behind. Once we step out of our comfort zone, we are a new person.

Just when I thought we would sit in silence reminiscing about what we had lost, Lopez immediately looked up, “But I’m a man, you know. I stay strong, I try. In my mind, I say OK, I leave the country. I leave my friends. But, I will be back.”

Lopez and his friends back home.

As could have been predicted, language is one of the biggest challenges when studying abroad, especially in Lopez’s case, where he has just arrived in the U.S not too long ago. “When I came here first, the most difficult thing I faced is English. I never spoke English, never in my life.” My mouth was wide open as he continued to recall his first impression of English. “When she [Amanda Andrews] came to pick me up at the airport, she was like ‘hooo.’ He chuckled. The things I remember... what she said was ‘Hello, I’m Amanda. I’m here to pick you up. Is that you, Lopez?’ I said ‘Yeah’. That’s it.”

As a person who spent more than ten years learning English, I had plenty of time to mentally and physically prepare. Yet, I still felt anxious and uneasy when I first landed in America. The amount of times I wish I had not made this decision and begged my parents to let me return is incalculable. But, Lopez, on the other hand, jumped right into the challenge. “I said, ‘Alright, whatever it is, I’m going to study it. I try; I’m trying to do my best.” He is ready to do whatever it takes to stay focused and to gain at least a few more steps closer toward his goals. 

Throughout the conversation, Lopez revealed his enthusiasm especially for welding, his major and his coping mechanisms for loneliness and challenges. He is a small guy with big dreams, and one trait I admire a lot in him is his explicit attitude. “When you come here, your parents, or your mom, your dad, they have costs for you. They need you to be someone in the future.” He grinned. “I do feel bad— I understand your vision—I do feel bad. But, that’s how life is. You can’t change it. Like a year ago, it would be your parents and everyone you meet. But, now, it’s you and your future.”

Lopez's welding project

One thing I can say about Lopez is that he is an independent man with a strong will to live, to strive, and to achieve things he believes he deserves. “Like, I’m here, I know why I’m here. I’m studying and just [trying] to find money. If I have money, I can build my own company in my country and start to help someone or my family and everyone." His eyebrows slightly lift when he mentions his family. "My mom passed away, and my dad, I don’t see often, but I know him. But, I can’t go and say, ‘Mhmm, my mom passed away. I’m not going to do anything. I’m tired.’ You know, you need to go forward. You know, here, you don’t have any family. You’re alone as well.”

Lopez's welding project

Up until this moment, everything he said had hit close to home. It is shameful to admit, but at times when I face failures or challenges, somewhere in my mind sparks the thought that it is because I don't have what others have. I don't have my family here with me to keep me strong enough to achieve my goals. I don't have enough time to be with my parents before they pass. And, then I start to feel regret. It leaves me pitying myself for being alien in a foreign country since such a young age. It makes me upset about my parents because they let me leave home too early. But, once again, Lopez's words woke me up from the endless cycle of "what-ifs."

"And the thing is," he stared into my soul, "when you think about your goal, think about you, don't think about people, don't think even about your parents, sorry to say that. Because you will not be your parents, and your parents will not be you."

"If you failed now, it's not your parents failed, it's you failed." He covers his laughs behind his sleeves. "But your parents, they can fail if they didn't send you to school, if they don't pay your school, if they don't do anything for you, that's their fault. Now, they pay your school, they pay everything for you, so it's ... [He began to giggle]. You better do something."

"You better do something." These words still linger even when I hit the "stop" button on the recording screen, even when Lopez left and I shut the door to the room we were in. Since that moment, I can not stop thinking, which I hope you are too after reading. I start to shift my focus on my goals and do anything to find the answers, "What is that something? What can I do with my life to deserve the blessings I am so lucky to have received?"