Pay It Forward

North Lake College prides itself on having a diverse population. Students from as far away as Korea, Nepal and Kenya have come to NLC to get an education. The price tag for that education, however, is much higher than local students pay. And there's more pressure to succeed.

While most international students may go to school primarily on scholarships, grants and money from parents back home, they can struggle with challenges of living in America. Language barriers, culture shock, pressure to excell in every class - to ensure that they won't have to drop the course that might ruin their academic career - is just to name a few.

Most students experience the pressures of college: tuition, studying, and sometimes working a part-time job in order to put a roof over their heads. When you are from Irving or a suburb of Dallas, you have a support group of family or close friends to lean on, but international students don't often have that luxury.

Perhaps we can all help to make their transition smoother right in the classrooms of NLC with something as simple as "students helping students." Assisting fellow international students to get ahead in classes is a big step in the college process.

Students should stick together and work together. Help the girl next to you so she can help the guy next to her and the chain can continue. Become active in study groups or smaller discussion sessions. If someone is having trouble with a language or math problem, stop texting in class and lend a hand.

A little bit of tutoring or offered information can be a big help to someone who is learning to speak English. So next time you have a class with someone who is trying hard but struggling, take the initiative. You might even make a new friend.